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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Impact Of Out-Of-Class Science And Engineering Activities On Physics Identity And Career Intentions, Robynne M. Lock, Zahra Hazari, Geoff Potvin Oct 2019

Impact Of Out-Of-Class Science And Engineering Activities On Physics Identity And Career Intentions, Robynne M. Lock, Zahra Hazari, Geoff Potvin

Department of Teaching and Learning

The number of physics bachelor’s degrees that are awarded in the United States annually is small compared to most other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, and only about one-fifth of these degrees are awarded to women. Understanding the influence of students’ science and engineering experiences on career choices is critical in order to improve future efforts to increase the number of physics majors and the participation of women. In this work, we use a physics identity framework to examine the impact of out-of-class science and engineering activities on three identity dimensions and the relationship between these dimensions and physics …


Fostering Computational Thinking In An Introductory Physics Lab, Diana Sachmpazidi Sep 2019

Fostering Computational Thinking In An Introductory Physics Lab, Diana Sachmpazidi

STEM Instructional Graduate Teaching Assistant Posters

•Thinking computationally means conceptualizing a problem and formulating it in a way that a computer can solve it (Wing, 2010). •Computational Thinking (CT) is the third pillar of the scientific method along with theory and experimentation and is a fundamental skill that K-12 students and undergraduates should be equipped with (Wing, 2016; 2006). •Research on CT has only been active the last 10 years and most studies are still at the stage of ideas (Kalelioglu et al., 2016). •The integration of CT aspects in instruction is a widely expanding phenomenon in physics classrooms in the context of higher education, and …


Games: Glass And Materials Science To Engage Students, M. A. Liggett, Kateryna Swan Jul 2019

Games: Glass And Materials Science To Engage Students, M. A. Liggett, Kateryna Swan

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

Materials science is the study of the properties of matter and its applications in optics, chemistry, physics, and civil, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering. The broad field of materials science and the complex ideas that can be included in it are typically introduced into formal education at the college level, but recently there has been a push for younger students to also have exposure to materials science. In this project, we used the techniques demonstrated in First Physics to expose students, ages 9-15, to materials science. Our hypothesis was that by using these techniques, higher level concepts can be broken …


Using Forensics To Introduce Ir Spectroscopy & Molecular Modeling, Joseph T. Golab Jul 2019

Using Forensics To Introduce Ir Spectroscopy & Molecular Modeling, Joseph T. Golab

Faculty Publications & Research

A student activity is reported that analyzes “medical evidence” with experimental and computational methods. The lesson demonstrates benefits of solving practical problems with integrated tools.


Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom May 2019

Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom

University Scholar Projects

Students often enter the physics classroom with intuitive conceptions drawn from real life experiences or former coursework, and may be hesitant or reluctant to re-evaluate these mindsets in favor of formally instructed knowledge. The goal of introductory physics courses is not only to teach and expose students to new content, but also to cultivate students’ ability to reason through and derive content knowledge through personal inquiry. This scientific process necessitates one’s abilities to be open-minded in terms of hearing evidence that contradicts his or her personal opinion, to be willing to discard any original misconceptions in the face of such …


Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom May 2019

Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom

Honors Scholar Theses

Students often enter the physics classroom with intuitive conceptions drawn from real life experiences or former coursework, and may be hesitant or reluctant to re-evaluate these mindsets in favor of formally instructed knowledge. The goal of introductory physics courses is not only to teach and expose students to new content, but also to cultivate students’ ability to reason through and derive content knowledge through personal inquiry. This scientific process necessitates one’s abilities to be open-minded in terms of hearing evidence that contradicts his or her personal opinion, to be willing to discard any original misconceptions in the face of such …


2019 Patterns Around Us Handout, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Wayne Kermenski, Jennifer Welborn Jan 2019

2019 Patterns Around Us Handout, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Wayne Kermenski, Jennifer Welborn

Patterns Around Us

This is a FREE two-day program designed for Middle and High School General Science, Biology, Physics, Technology/Engineering teachers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation.Space is limited, so apply soon! Some limited funding is available for overnight stay.

“Science may be described as the attempt to give good accounts of the patterns in nature. The result of scientific investigation is an understanding of natural processes.... Overall, the key criterion of science is that it provides a clear, rational, and succinct account of a pattern in nature....” Massachusetts State Frameworks for Science and Technology.

Participants will explore the processes of …


Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman Jan 2019

Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Solar cells convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. In this workshop, I will discuss the processes involved in solar cell and various types of solar cells that are being developed as an alternative to silicon solar cells. I will also demonstrate how students can build a solar cell from readily available materials.


Question 1: Losing Weight; Question 2: Artificial Moon, Larry Weinstein Jan 2019

Question 1: Losing Weight; Question 2: Artificial Moon, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

The article presents questions related to Fermi which include mass lost by Sun over its lifetime; and size of artificial satellite needed to provide as much illumination as a full moon.


Spectroscopy Of Neon For The Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, H. C. Busch, M. B. Cooper, C. I. Sukenik Jan 2019

Spectroscopy Of Neon For The Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, H. C. Busch, M. B. Cooper, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We describe a spectroscopy experiment, suitable for upper-division laboratory courses, that investigates saturated absorption spectroscopy and polarization spectroscopy in a neon discharge. Both experiments use nearly identical components, allowing students to explore both techniques in a single apparatus. Furthermore, because the wavelength of the laser is in the visible part of the spectrum (640 nm), the experiment is well-suited for students with limited experience in optical alignment. The labs nicely complement a course in atomic or plasma physics, provide students with the opportunity to gain important technical skills in the area of optics and lasers, and can provide an introduction …


Ua66/11/1 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Publications, Wku Archives Jan 2019

Ua66/11/1 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Publications, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Publications by and about the Department of Physics and Astronomy.


Ua66/11/2 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Administration, Wku Archives Jan 2019

Ua66/11/2 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Administration, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about the administration of Physics and Astronomy.