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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Operating Temperature Of A Solar Thermal Stirling Engine, Spencer Beck
Operating Temperature Of A Solar Thermal Stirling Engine, Spencer Beck
Senior Theses
This paper explores the relationship between the operating temperature and electricity production of a simple heat engine. A Stirling engine was designed and constructed which runs on solar thermal energy collected by a Fresnel lens. The surface area of the solar collector was varied. This manipulated the operating temperature of the Stirling engine in order to measure power output. The mechanical energy from the engine was converted to electricity using a DC motor running in reverse, acting like a generator, in conjunction with an Arduino for data collection. Although adjustments must be made in order to improve the efficiency of …
Thin Film Thermal Deposition At Various Pressures, James Kela Yee Keen Grace
Thin Film Thermal Deposition At Various Pressures, James Kela Yee Keen Grace
Senior Theses
This research was to verify the hypothesis that resistivity of metal's thin film deposited in a low-pressure environment is the same as its solid material. Thermal Evaporation is a thin film deposition technique in which metal inside a vacuum is evaporated, then deposited onto a surface. Higher quality metal films are deposited when the vacuum pressure is lower. At higher pressures, more air molecules are trapped within the layers of metal, thus increasing scattering sites and increasing the resistance. However, reaching a lower pressure requires more time and effort. In this research, films were deposited at various pressures and resistivities …
Are Solar Panels A Viable Power Source For A Green Energy Vehicle?, Mason C. Adams
Are Solar Panels A Viable Power Source For A Green Energy Vehicle?, Mason C. Adams
Senior Theses
A solar cell powered go-kart has been built and tested. The result shows using solar energy alone cannot meet the requirement of running a regular passenger car. This is due to the limited surface area of the passenger car. This thesis also discusses the operating principles of solar panels, the physics of P type and N type semiconductors, and the formation of the PN junction, as well as the solar current. Modifications of an existing go-kart are described in detail in this thesis. Suggestions for making green vehicles are discussed as well.
Observing Orbital Angular Momentum Transfer From Electron Vortex Beams To Matter, Hannah Devyldere
Observing Orbital Angular Momentum Transfer From Electron Vortex Beams To Matter, Hannah Devyldere
Senior Theses
It is possible to produce electron beams with non-zero orbital angular momentum. Such beams, known as electron vortex beams, are theoretically able to transfer their orbital angular momenta to matter, causing the matter to rotate. Nanoparticles in an aqueous solution were observed with an electron vortex beam to detect the transfer of orbital angular momentum in a low-friction environment. Observing the transfer of orbital angular momentum to particles in solution is difficult due to the necessity of imaging the particles through a liquid and the random movement of particles in the solution. Thus, orbital angular momentum transfer to matter could …