Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling Of Internal Wave Interactions On Conch Reef, Florida Keys, Megan Miller

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Internal waves breaking on continental shelves play a significant role in mixing and nutrient delivery to coral reef ecosystems. As internal solitary waves, or solitons, propagate shoreward onto continental slopes, they can become unstable and break into turbulent bores that bring cool, nutrient-rich sub-thermocline water shoreward onto coral reefs. The propagation of turbulent bores generated by internal waves interacting with a complex surface creates high-frequency variabilities in the thermal and nutrient environment of Conch Reef in the Florida Keys, which has been studied previously. Here, I have created a three-dimensional model using ANSYS Fluent Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to …

Investigating The Effects Of A Southward Flow In The Southeastern Florida Shelf Using Robotic Instruments, Alfredo Quezada

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

We deployed a Slocum G3 glider fitted with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), a Conductivity-Temperature-Depth sensor (CTD), optics sensor channels, and a propeller on the Southeastern Florida shelf. The ADCP and CTD provide continuous measurements of Northern and Eastern current velocity components, salinity, temperature, and density, throughout the water column in a high-current environment. The optics sensor channels are able to provide measurements of chlorophyll concentrations, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and backscatter particle counts. Additionally, for one of the glider deployments, we deployed a Wirewalker wave-powered profiling platform system also fitted with an ADCP and a CTD in …

Microscale To Mesoscale Modeling Of The Ocean Under Tropical Cyclones: Effects Of Sea Spray And Surfactants On Tropical Cyclone Intensity And Air-Sea Gas Exchange, Breanna Lynn Cain Vanderplow

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Tropical cyclone intensity prediction remains a challenge despite computational and observational developments because successful intensity forecasting requires implementing a multitude of atmospheric and oceanic processes. Hurricane Maria 2017 and Hurricane Dorian 2019 serve as prime examples of rapidly intensifying storms that devastated communities in the Caribbean. A lack of understanding and parameterization of crucial physics involved in tropical cyclone intensity in existing forecast models may have led to these and other forecasting errors.

Microscale physical processes at the air-sea interface are a major factor in intensification of tropical cyclones that are often unaccounted for in forecasting models since they are …

Self-Inductance And Magnetic Flux, Diego Castano, Teresa M. Castano

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

The canonical equation for self-inductance involving magnetic flux is examined, and a more general form is presented that can be applied to continuous current distributions. We attempt to clarify and extend the use of the standard equation by recasting it in its more versatile form.

Experiment 2.05: Wheatstone Bridge, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The Wheatstone Bridge is used to determine the resistances of five resistors.

Experiment 2.04: Kirchhoff’S Laws, Diego Castano, Andrew Kiene

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

A non-trivial resistor arrangement is analyzed

Experiment 2.06: Series Rc Dc-Circuit, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The capacitances of two unknown capacitors are determined examining their charging behavior.

Experiment 2.02: Electric And Potential Fields, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

Electric field line maps for three 2-dimensional charge distributions are determined using a voltmeter.

Experiment 2.03: Ohm’S Law, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The resistances of three resistors are determined by varying the applied voltage and measuring the resulting current.

Experiment 2.01: Coulomb’S Law, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The charge resulting from the static electrification of a Teflon plate is determined through its interaction with a neutral conducting sphere.

Experiment 2.09: Reflection And Refraction, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The laws of geometrical optics are studied by tracking light rays refracting across an air-glass boundary and reflecting off convex and concave mirrors.

Experiment 2.08: Series Rlc Ac-Circuit, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

Using the resonant behavior of a circuit consisting of a coil and known capacitor, the coil’s self-inductance and resistance are determined.

Experiment 2.07: Magnetic Field Of The Earth, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The earth’s horizontal component of magnetic field is determined using a tangent galvanometer.

Experiment 2.10: Lenses, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The focal lengths of converging and diverging lenses are determined.

Seizure Prediction In Epilepsy Patients, Gary Dean Cravens

NSU REACH and IPE Day

Purpose/Objective: Characterize rigorously the preictal period in epilepsy patients to improve the development of seizure prediction techniques. Background/Rationale: 30% of epilepsy patients are not well-controlled on medications and would benefit immensely from reliable seizure prediction. Methods/Methodology: Computational model consisting of in-silico Hodgkin-Huxley neurons arranged in a small-world topology using the Watts-Strogatz algorithm is used to generate synthetic electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. ECoG data from 18 epilepsy patients is used to validate the model. Unsupervised machine learning is used with both patient and synthetic data to identify potential electrophysiologic biomarkers of the preictal period. Results/Findings: The model has shown states corresponding to …

Experiment 1.02: Acceleration Due To Gravity: Vertical Drop, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The acceleration due to gravity is determined from the fall of a metal sphere.

Experiment 1.04: Newton's 2nd Law, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The motion of a modified Atwood-type machine is studied.

Experiment 1.07: Torque, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

A mechanical balance is used to study the role of torque in states of static equilibrium.

Experiment 1.08: Buoyancy, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

Archimedes Principle is used to determine the density of an unknown metal.

Experiment 1.05: Energy, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The conservation of energy for the case of a descending glider on an inclined air-track is examined.

Experiment 1.06: Momentum, Diego Castano, Andrew Kiene

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The conservation of momentum for the case of colliding gliders on an air-track is examined.

Experiment 1.03: Acceleration Due To Gravity: Inclined Surface, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The acceleration due to gravity is determined from the descent of a near frictionless glider on an inclined air-track.

Experiment 1.01: Measurement, Diego Castano, Victor Castro

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

Introduction to measurement/data analysis; measurements of an aluminum cylinder and cuboid are used to determine their densities.

Experiment 1.10: Standing Waves On Strings, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

The fourth harmonic of a vibrating string is used to determine the acceleration due to gravity.

Experiment 1.09: The Simple Pendulum, Diego Castano

Physics Lab Experiments with Simulated Data for Remote Delivery

A simple pendulum is used to determine the acceleration due to gravity.

Experimental Evidence That Metapopulation Structure Can Accelerate Adaptive Evolution, Partha Pratim Chakraborty, Louis R. Nemzer, Rees Kassen

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Whether the spatial arrangement of a population influences adaptive evolution has been a long-standing question in population genetics. In contrast to standard population genetic models, evolutionary graph theory (EGT) predicts certain topologies amplify (increase) the probability that a beneficial mutation will spread in the population relative to a well-mixed population. Here, we test these predictions empirically by tracking the fixation dynamics of an antibiotic resistant mutant under positive selection as it spreads through networks of different topologies both in vitro and in silico. We show that star-like topologies involving bi-directional dispersal between a central hub and peripheral leaves can …

The Pedagogical Representation Of Mass Functions With Lego And Their Origin, Stefan Kautsch

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

We promote the teaching of mass functions as an integral part of an interdisciplinary science education. Mass functions characterize the frequency distributions of objects with different masses on all cosmic scales. We intend to enhance experiential learning of this concept with a creative LEGO brick experiment for a diverse student audience. To our surprise, the LEGO mass function is not only qualitatively but also quantitatively comparable to mass functions found across the universe. We also discuss the relation between gravitation and mass distributions as a possible explanation for the continuity of the universal mass function.

Stay Calm And Focus On The Learning Outcomes: Tools For Taking Biophysical Chemistry Online, Maria Ballester, Brian L. Van Hoozen Jr., Arthur Sikora

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Course specific learning outcomes are an important tool to define the scope of a course and can be very helpful when designing experiments and assessments. With slight modification, these learning outcomes can serve as a guide when transitioning to the distance learning format especially in courses with a traditional lab. Here we present such an example for the biophysical chemistry course.

Effects Of Surfactants On The Generation Of Sea Spray During Tropical Cyclones, Breanna L. Vanderplow

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Despite significant improvement in computational and observational capabilities, predicting intensity and intensification of major tropical cyclones remains a challenge. In 2017 Hurricane Maria intensified to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours, devastating Puerto Rico. In 2019 Hurricane Dorian, predicted to remain tropical storm, unexpectedly intensified into a Category 5 storm and destroyed the Bahamas. The official forecast and computer models were unable to predict rapid intensification of these storms. One possible reason for this is that key physics, including microscale processes at the air-sea interface, are poorly understood and parameterized in existing forecast models.

Under tropical cyclones, the air-sea …

A Practical, Quantitative Electrostatics Experiment, Bryan K. Armentrout, Diego Castano

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

An electrostatics experiment is presented that is practical, affordable, and quantitative. The equipment required is readily available and relatively inexpensive. The experiment relies on the electrostatic induction that results from a charged insulative plate in proximity to a conductive sphere. The experiment yields accessible results (a) under a variety of environmental conditions and results that (b) allow for quantitative analyses. These two characteristics distinguish it from most other simple electrostatics experiments. It is intended for college introductory physics students.