Dear Advanced/Intermediate Lab Faculty and Technical Staff, I encourage you to consider attending the Advanced Lab Topical Conference at U. of Michigan, July 23-25 (just before the summer AAPT meeting). These conferences only happen about every 15 years, and should be of considerable interest to faculty and technical staff involved with college-level physics labs beyond the introductory level. Details can be found on the conference web page http://advlabs.aapt.org/events/event.cfm?ID=2 Registration will be capped at 120 and we currently have at least 100 registrants, so sign up soon if you plan to attend. Lost cost ($150) registration has been extended and there…
Category: University support
May 30-31, 2009 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on a 15-year mission to explore the universe. Now, just past it’s 19th birthday, it is getting a new lease on life. Space Shuttle mission STS-125 (scheduled for launch on May 11) is slated to replace and repair science instruments, computers, batteries, gyroscopes and blankets. This, the last Hubble servicing mission, should allow Hubble to operate as a fully operational enhanced astronomical observatory for many more years. At JPL we are taking this opportunity to revisit the Hubble mission and the work of JPL’s…
AAPT and APS give special awards for the top physics projects at the International Science and Engineering Fair each year. This year ISEF is being held May 10-15 in Reno. This is an opportunity for the Northern California-Nevada section to assist by recruiting judges to take part in this event. Typically we try to get 3 judges and we would like representation from AAPT and APS. I will need their names and contact information by April 21. Can you assist with this? I will also ask Ted Hodapp at APS for help in locating 1 or 2 APS members. Please…
The following presentations were given: What is an electron?, A Proof of the Maximal Efficiency of the Carnot Cycle, Orbiting Satellites and Elevators Through the Center of Earth, Using YouTube Video in the Classroom, IceCube, Bringing Cutting-Edge Science into the Classroom, One Year With a $1000 High-Speed Video Camera, Concept Mapping Software in a High School Physics Class. Click the title of this article for complete descriptions.
Charles presented several stations for Newton’s Laws of Motion. His goal is to have his students spend more time with their hands on activities, and less time listening to lectures. He generally introduces the activities of the day with a mini lecture, then students have time to work the activities. He does some preparation/manipulation of the apparatus to ensure students get the desired results. Some of his activities/demos include: A great demo he uses is a “fake rock” made of foam and painted black that he can throw to students and be surprised by how light it is. Nice heavy…