Friday Keynote Speaker
James Trefil, George Mason University, "Managing the Planet -- Hard Science and Hard Choices"
There are developments going on in the science right now that will, in a matter of decades, change forever the relationship between human beings and nature. In this talk we will examine how we have come to this state of affairs by asking two questions: (1) how did nature get to be the way it is, and (2) how did humans get to be the way they are? It will be argued that starting about 10,000 years ago humans began to remove themselves from nature with the development of agriculture, and that this separation has intensified to the present day. Soon, however, developments in experimental ecology, genomics, and complexity theory will return humans to nature, not as participants, but as managers. We will close by looking at some of the principles that have been proposed for managing Planet Earth.
James Trefil
Saturday Talks
Bruce R. Boller, Washington & Lee
University, Some Thoughts on Osculating Circles and Trajectories
In today's news of various space exploration exploits we often use in the
classroom the concept of a satellite or a space probe passing near a solar
system object to explain the use of Newton's laws of motion and the law of
gravitation. During such exercises we emphasize how the acceleration of the
space probe contains a centripetal term. Most often, circular orbits are employed
because of the ease with which the problem may be solved. This is especially
true when the material arises in a first semester course in general physics,
whether or not it is an algebra-based or calculus-based course.
Way back when advanced calculus was in vogue as a course after
a year of differential equations, parametric equations for spatial curves
was one of the topics of study. The radius of curvature of the best-fitting
circle (osculating circle) at any point on the curve could be determined.
So the natural question arises as to what the radius of curvature of the osculating
circle is when a satellite or space probe is at the distance of closest approach
to the gravitating body. How is the radius of curvature dependent upon the
parameters in the equations of conic sections? The energy relationships are
well known but the relationship between the radius of curvature at the distance
of closest approach and the constants in the equation for conic sections is
not necessarily readily available. This paper addresses the answer to that
question. (Presentation)
(Photo)
Stuart Farrell, Lynchburg College (student), A Numerical
Approach to the One-Dimensional Schrödinger Equation
I will discuss quantum mechanics and show numerical results that I have obtained.
I will examine various potentials, including finite square barriers, finite
square wells, and a reflectionless potential. Best
Student Paper Prize Winner (Presentation)
(Photo)
Harold Geller, George Mason University, Effects of
Integrated Science Courses on the Physical Sciences
Many higher education institutions now offer an integrated science course
to give non-science majors a flavor of all of the sciences. These courses
are types of survey courses that do not demonstrate the interdependencies
among the science disciplines, exposing students to each of the science disciplines
individually. The effects that different integrated science courses may have
on the teaching and learning of physics, astronomy and other physical sciences,
to non-science majors will be examined based upon courses now available at
George Mason University. (Presentation)
(Photo)
John Eric Goff, Lynchburg College,
Modern Application for Introductory Physics: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Both anecdotal and quantitative evidence from recent years suggest that the
popularity of television shows like CSI has led to many students entering
college or university with a desire to give the field of forensic science
a serious look. New forensic science minors and majors have sprung up in schools
across the country to address the growing demand. Just this spring, Lynchburg
College began offering a course in forensic science. This talk will address
one of the many areas in which physics plays a crucial role in the multidisciplinary
field of forensic science; namely, the analysis of bloodstain patterns found
at many crime scenes. (Presentation)
(Photo 1) (Photo
2)
Frank Munley, Roanoke College, Moving
field lines and induced emf outside an infinite solenoid
Moving field lines outside finite and infinite solenoids will be discussed.
A perennial problem is how an emf can be generated outside an infinite solenoid
when the magnetic field outside is zero (in the magnetostatic approximation).
I will show how to do it without fancy magnetic vector potentials but with
simple field lines from two superimposed semi-infinite solenoids. (Photo)
Julius A. Sigler, Lynchburg College,
Take-Out Physics-Supplementary Activities for Introductory Physics Courses
This paper will describe a variety of simple experiments (some more in the
nature of demonstrations) that students can do on their own outside of class
and outside of the traditional laboratory environment. Handouts for participants
will include sufficient documentation to guide students in completing these
activities. While high school teachers will find these especially useful,
teachers of college-level introductory physics courses can also use them with
significant effect. Frank R. Haig Prize Winner
for "Best Paper from a Four-Year College" (Presentation)
(Photo)
Bill Warren, Lord Fairfax Community
College, Einstein’s Miraculous Year
2005 has been declared the “World Year of Physics” in honor of the centennial
of Albert Einstein’s “miraculous year” which revolutionized physics. Einstein’s
1905 papers and their significance to the development of science and human
affairs will be discussed. David Dwight Prize
Winner for "Best Paper from a Two-Year College" (Presentation)
(Photo)
