Physics Commons^™

Break Junction Technique For Studying Individual Biological Molecules, Brian Mayorga

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Single molecule biophysics is a rapidly growing field that has great implications in the broader area of nanotechnology. The quantum properties of complex biological molecules can also be studied through the use of advanced techniques that examine molecules on an individual scale. Current methods for studying individual molecules often lack the accuracy needed to yield satisfactory data. In our experiments, we attempted to use a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) based break junction method to study the quantum tunneling current through small biomolecules. By probing the currents changes through these molecules on an individual scale under external gating and in a …

Calculating Vsin(I) Of Planet-Hosting Young Stars, Jennifer Medina

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Constraining the spin-orbit alignment of close-in planets in young systems can provide insight on their migratory history. We can combine Vsin(i) with measurements of the stellar rotation period and radius to determine the star's orbital inclination, which we can compare to that of the planet as determined from the transit. Vsin(i) is determined from the rotational broadening on the star's spectral lines, so it is ideal to work with young, fast-rotating stars where broadening is more easily measured. We measure Vsin(i) of seven planet-hosting stars within the Praesepe star cluster by using high-resolution spectra from the Immersion Grating INfrared Spectrometer …

Examining The Relationship Between Career Outcome Expectations And Physics Identity, Camila Monslave

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

A small percentage of physics degrees are awarded each year. Previous studies about career outcome expectations, or what students hope to achieve in their careers, have revealed strong relationships between outcome expectations and STEM career choice. Drawing from a US national survey with responses from 15,847 students in mandatory College English courses (Outreach Programs and Science Career Intentions, NSF # 1161052), we examined the relationship between student’s outcome expectations and physics identity. It has previously been found that students with certain outcome expectations are more likely to develop a physics identity. Expanding beyond prior work, we focus on how outcome …

Optics Model - Curriculum Development And Evaluation For Modeling Instruction Electricity And Magnetism, John Pendas

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

The research conducted will address the effective use of modeling instruction and application in the Physics 2 classroom, specifically the teaching of Optics, which include the properties of light, reflection, refraction, lenses and interference. To further clarify, models are sets of representations such as graphs, pictures, diagrams, equations and/ or written explanations, which are interconnected and used to explain a physics phenomenon. By teaching the effective use of these models, we hope students are able to explaining, predicting and describing characteristics of optics phenomena. This project will be broken down into two sections: curriculum development and curriculum evaluation. Curriculum development …

Discipline-Based Education Research, Joanna Rivero

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

As many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields continue to suffer a lack of participation of women and many traditionally-underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, many studies have been undertaken in an effort to understand why women have not pursued particular career paths in comparison to other STEM careers that used to be male dominated but are no longer so. This research project attempts to synthesize various studies that have tried to explain possible reasons why women aren’t involved in engineering as whole to aid in analyzing the statistical increase or decrease of women in specific engineering disciplines. The study …

Physics Education Research: Interactions With High-Achieving Students, As Measured By Incoming Gpa, And Student Course Ggrade. Verbal Recognition Of Performance By Peers Or Instructors And Student Course Grade, Jessica Fernandez

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

My study centers on examining relationships between academic performance, selfefficacy and student identity. To do so, I take a two pronged approach: 1) a focus on whether or not a correlation exists between student interactions with high-achieving students and student overall academic performance, and 2) the correlation between verbal recognition by peers or instructors and student academic performance. I predict a positive correlation between the interactions of high-achieving students and student overall course grade, as well as a positive correlation between the verbal recognition by peers or instructors and student course grade. In order to determine these outcomes, three different …

Present-Day Pattern Variations In The Central And Eastern Pacific El Nino, Szandra Peter

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a cycle that is initiated in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and is recognized on interannual timescales by oscillating patterns in tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures (SST) and atmospheric circulations. Using correlation and regression analysis of datasets that include SST’s and other interdependent variables including precipitation, surface winds, sea level pressure, this research seeks to quantify recent changes in ENSO behavior. Specifically, the amplitude, frequency of occurrence, and spatial characteristics (i.e. events with maximum amplitude in the Central Pacific versus the Eastern Pacific) are investigated.

The research is based on the question; “Are …