AAPT Logo
AJP Logo
 
   
 

BROWSE VOLUMES

Year Range: 
Search Issue | RSS Feeds RSS
Previous Issue Next Issue

Sep 2001

Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 933-1021

back to top
RSS Feeds

The importance of undergraduate research

Jan Tobochnik, Editor

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 933 | Cited 1 time

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.40.-d Education
back to top
RSS Feeds

American Association of Physics Teachers: Citations for Distinguished Service, 2001

Larry D. Kirkpatrick

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 935

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.40.-d Education
back to top
RSS Feeds

Resource Letter: ScL-1: Scaling laws

Kurt Wiesenfeld

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 938 | Cited 2 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on scaling laws in physics and allied fields. Journal articles and books are cited for the following topics: dimensional analysis, critical phenomena, fractals, nonlinear dynamics, and nonequilibrium physics. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
01.30.Tt Bibliographies
05.70.Jk Critical point phenomena
05.45.Df Fractals
05.70.Ln Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics

An introduction to electrical resistivity in geophysics

Rhett Herman

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 943 | Cited 6 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
Physicists are finding that the skills they have learned in their training may be applied to areas beyond traditional physics topics. One such field is that of geophysics. This paper presents the electrical resistivity component of an undergraduate geophysics course at Radford University. It is taught from a physics perspective, yet the application of the theory to the real world is the overriding goal. The concepts involved in electrical resistivity studies are first discussed in a general sense, and then they are studied through the application of the relevant electromagnetic theory. Since geology majors comprise the bulk of the students in this class, the math used is only that which is typically required of geology majors. The final results are given in a form that practicing geophysicists may use in the field. A method is presented for constructing an inexpensive apparatus for measuring electrical resistivity in both a tabletop laboratory setting and in the field. This apparatus is truly “plug and play” since its assembly and use requires only the most basic knowledge of electronics. This apparatus is tested in a tabletop laboratory setting as well as in two field surveys. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
91.25.Qi Geoelectricity, electromagnetic induction, and telluric currents

Mode interaction in horses, tea, and other nonlinear oscillators: The universal role of symmetry

Jacobus P. van der Weele and Erik J. Banning

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 953 | Cited 1 time

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
This paper is about mode interaction in systems of coupled nonlinear oscillators. The main ideas are demonstrated by means of a model consisting of two coupled, parametrically driven pendulums. On the basis of this we also discuss mode interaction in the Faraday experiment (as observed by Ciliberto and Gollub) and in running animals. In all these systems the interaction between two modes is seen to take place via a third mode: This interaction mode is a common daughter, born by means of a symmetry breaking bifurcation, of the two interacting modes. Thus, not just any two modes can interact with each other, but only those that are linked (in the system’s group-theoretical hierarchy) by a common daughter mode. This is the quintessence of mode interaction. In many cases of interest, the interaction mode is seen to undergo further bifurcations, and this can eventually lead to chaos. These stages correspond to lower and lower levels of symmetry, and the constraints imposed by group theory become less and less restrictive. Indeed, the precise sequence of events during these later stages is determined not so much by group-theoretical stipulations as by the accidental values of the nonlinear terms in the equations of motion. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
05.45.-a Nonlinear dynamics and chaos

Ferroelectricity: Measurement of the dielectric susceptibility of strontium titanate at low temperatures

Matthew Trainer

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 966 | Cited 9 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
A cryogenic experiment determining the dielectric susceptibility of the ferroelectric substance, strontium titanate, in the 90- to 300-K temperature range is described. Evidence is presented for a structural phase transition in strontium titanate at 110 K. The experiment is suitable for advanced students. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
07.20.Mc Cryogenics; refrigerators, low-temperature detectors, and other low-temperature equipment
77.80.B- Phase transitions and Curie point

Peer Instruction: Ten years of experience and results

Catherine H. Crouch and Eric Mazur

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 970 | Cited 142 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
We report data from ten years of teaching with Peer Instruction (PI) in the calculus- and algebra-based introductory physics courses for nonmajors; our results indicate increased student mastery of both conceptual reasoning and quantitative problem solving upon implementing PI. We also discuss ways we have improved our implementation of PI since introducing it in 1991. Most notably, we have replaced in-class reading quizzes with pre-class written responses to the reading, introduced a research-based mechanics textbook for portions of the course, and incorporated cooperative learning into the discussion sections as well as the lectures. These improvements are intended to help students learn more from pre-class reading and to increase student engagement in the discussion sections, and are accompanied by further increases in student understanding. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
01.40.Fk Research in physics education
01.55.+b General physics

Paradigms in Physics: A new upper-division curriculum

Corinne A. Manogue, Philip J. Siemens, Janet Tate, Kerry Browne, Margaret L. Niess, and Adam J. Wolfer

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 978 | Cited 7 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
We describe a new curriculum for the final two years of a B.S. program in Physics. Case studies in the junior year provide concrete examples or Paradigms as pillars to support systematic Capstone lectures in the senior year. In each of nine three-week Paradigms, the junior progresses from a descriptive lower-division understanding to an advanced analysis of a topic defined by phenomenon rather than discipline. Students generally view the new format with favor. They are better at visualization and make important connections among physics disciplines. Independent assessment is ongoing. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
01.55.+b General physics

The pre-pharmacy major: A survey of physics requirements

Richard P. McCall

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 991

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
This paper presents the results of a survey of 81 colleges of pharmacy affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy regarding physics requirements for the pre-pharmacy major. Responses include number of semesters required, credit hours, student majors in the course, and mathematical basis. Strengths and weaknesses as reported by the college representatives are also presented. Their comments are used to point to needed changes in the pre-professional physics course. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
01.50.-i Educational aids
01.40.Di Course design and evaluation

The proper homogeneous Lorentz transformation operator eL=e−ω⋅S−ξ⋅K: Where’s it going, what’s the twist?

H. L. Berk, K. Chaicherdsakul, and T. Udagawa

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 996 | Cited 2 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
A discussion of the proper homogeneous Lorentz transformation operator eL=exp[−ω⋅S−ξ⋅K] is given where eL transforms coordinates of an observer O to those of an observer O′. Two methods of evaluation are presented. The first is based on a dynamical analog. It is shown that the transformation can be evaluated from the set of equations that are identical to the set of equations that determine the four-velocity of a charged particle in response to a combined spatially uniform and temporally constant electric field E and magnetic field B, where E is parallel to ξ and B is antiparallel to ω, and E/B=ξ/ω. The principal difference in the two problems is that in the dynamics problem, the initial conditions for the four-velocity u must satisfy the constraint, uu=1, whereas the inner product of the coordinates acted on by eL can have any real value. In order to evaluate eL, one can then apply the simplifying techniques of transforming to the frame where E is parallel or antiparallel to B, whereupon the transformation eL in this special frame is trivially evaluated. Then we transform back to the original frame. We determine the β and the rotation Ω that results from a successive boost and rotation that the operator eL produces. A second method is based on a direct summation of the power series of the matrix elements of eL that has been used in relativistic quantum theory. The summation is facilitated by observing that the operators J±≡K±iS commute with each other, and can be represented in terms of the Pauli spin matrices. Indeed, we can reduce the Lorentz transformation to the product of spinor operators to give a compact way to compute the elements of the Lorentz operator eL. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
03.30.+p Special relativity
01.50.-i Educational aids
02.10.Yn Matrix theory

Integral equations of scattering in one dimension

Vania E. Barlette, Marcelo M. Leite, and Sadhan K. Adhikari

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1010 | Cited 11 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Show Abstract
A self-contained discussion of integral equations of scattering is presented in the case of centrally symmetric potentials in one dimension, which will facilitate the understanding of more complex scattering integral equations in two and three dimensions. The present discussion illustrates in a simple fashion the concept of partial-wave decomposition, Green’s function, Lippmann–Schwinger integral equations of scattering for wave function and transition operator, optical theorem, and unitarity relation. We illustrate the present approach with a Dirac delta potential. © 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
03.50.-z Classical field theories
02.30.Rz Integral equations
02.60.Nm Integral and integrodifferential equations
back to top
RSS Feeds

Simple demonstration of the central limit theorem using mass measurements

K. K. Gan, H. P. Kagan, and R. D. Kass

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1014 | Cited 1 time

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
06.30.Dr Mass and density
02.50.Ng Distribution theory and Monte Carlo studies

Magnetically driven chaotic pendulum

John P. Berdahl and Karel Vander Lugt

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1016 | Cited 4 times

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.50.-i Educational aids
05.45.-a Nonlinear dynamics and chaos
back to top
RSS Feeds

Boltzmann’s Atom: The Great Debate That Launched a Revolution in Physics

David Lindley, Author and James O’Connell, Reviewer

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1020

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF


See Also: Erratum

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.30.Vv Book reviews
05.20.Dd Kinetic theory

Science of Percussion Instruments

Thomas D. Rossing, Author and Mark French, Reviewer

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1020

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.30.Vv Book reviews
43.75.Hi Drums
43.75.Kk Bells, gongs, cymbals, mallet percussion, and similar instruments

Mathematical Methods for Physicists: A Concise Introduction

Tai L. Chow, Author and Amy Bug, Reviewer

American Journal of Physics -- September 2001 -- Volume 69, Issue 9, pp. 1021

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable
Show PACS
01.30.Vv Book reviews
02.00.00 Mathematical methods in physics
01.55.+b General physics
Close

AAPT on:

close