Abstracts

A Masters Program for In-Service Physics and Physical Science Teachers
Mark Lattery (Graduate Program Coordinator) University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Master of Science in Education (MSE) program is a unique collaboration of the UW Oshkosh College of Education & Human Services, College of Letters & Science, and the Green-Bay based Space Education Initiatives. In its second year, the MSE program features three physics courses aimed at strengthening teachersÆ content knowledge and teaching skills. UW Oshkosh is a member of the Arizona Statue University Modeling Instruction Network, which includes 42 universities and colleges in 27 states.

A Technological Teaching Tool
Ken Menningen UW - Stevens Point
I will discuss my first experiences with using a tablet PC while lecturing.

An Elementary Calculation of Gravitational Light Deflection using Snell's Law
Takamasa Takahashi and Rongyi Du St. Norbert College
In the context of optical analogy, in which gravity is represented as an optical medium with an effective index of refraction, an elementary yet exact calculation based on SnellÆs law is presented for the path of a light ray and the angle of deflection in a spherically symmetric gravitational field. Our treatment will make for ideal special-topic material for inclusion in a calculus-based introductory physics course.

Apparent shape of a swimming pool
KennethMendelson Marquette University
A standard topic in geometrical optics is the apparent depth of a pool. Usually this is treated for a person looking vertically down on the surface of the pool. Then one need consider only paraxial rays and ray tracing shows that the ratio of apparent to actual depth is given by 1/n where n is the index of refraction of the water. When a person looks out across the pool and observes rays that make large angles with the normal to the pool surface the apparent depth decreases as the angle increases. This angle, and hence the apparent depth, depend on the both the horizontal and vertical distances of the bottom point from the observer. This talk will discuss the appearance of a typical swimming pool.

Cruising, Computing, and Calibrating, Research Activities and Opportunities at UWRF
Jim Madsen UW-River Falls
The research projects at UWRF connected with the IceCube project at the South Pole will be described. These include a cruise on the icebreaker Oden from Sweden to Antarctica, computer simulations of cosmic ray showers, photon propagation studies using a graphics processor unit that is ~100 times faster than a CPU, a high school teacher from California who will make at the South Pole, and more! Opportunities for summer research will also be described.

Pasco Motion Sensors in Introductory Labs
Brett Unks UW Madison
We use Pasco motion sensors extensively in the introductory mechanics labs at UW - Madison. These devices provide the students with an effective way to visualize the motion of an object in real time. However, there are several pitfalls associated with these devices that can lead to frustration and misconception. In this talk, I will present a few implementations of the motion sensor and discuss ways to avoid problems when using this device.

Physics Assessment Summit II
Mark Lattery (Associate Professor of Physics) University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Expecting a visit from the Higher Learning Commission or similar agency soon? Meet other Wisconsin physics faculty engaged in the development/implementation of a Department-level assessment plan. Bring your plan along to share and receive feedback.

Research on Student Model Formation and Development in Physics
Mark Lattery (Associate Professor of Physics) University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
The research literature on modeling in science education is rapidly growing. This literature focuses on several related questions: How can scientific models and modeling be used to enhance K-16 science learning? How and why do student models change? What is the relationship between model development in the modern classroom and the history of science? This project examines student model formation and development in a university-level physical science course. The essence of my research method is to engage students in a modeling task involving a two-way trip of a fan cart (analogous to a vertical ball toss). Following classroom experiments and discussion, students attempt to render their models electronically using an interactive simulation program called Modeling Aid. Student thinking and reasoning are captured and studied using Techsmith Morae. The results contribute to an emerging body of empirical knowledge on student model formation and development in physics. Connections to history of physics are discussed. Applications include new and innovative educational materials that highlight scientific models and modeling. This research is supported by the Spencer Foundation (Grant #200800161) and the University of Wisconsin System Office of Professional and Instructional Development.

Self-firing Pottery (ceramics)using a Microwave Oven
Robert Foley UW-Stout Physics Dept; Associate Professor, Emeritus
A doped clay - which will absorb microwaves and self-heat to ceramic transition temperature - will self-fire in a microwave oven in times significantly less than tradition pottery kilns. Description and demostration will be presented.

Solution Manual Q&A
Erik Hendrickson UW - Eau Claire
Ever thought of writing a solution manual for a textbook? Ever thought about how they get written? I can provide a few answers regarding my experience with co-authoring the solution manuals for Giancoli's most-recent algebra-based and calculus-based texts.

Some Surprising Facts About How to Determine the Average Density of the Sun and of Other Stars Without Knowing Their Masses or Volumes
Jim Mallmann Milwaukee School of Engineering
The average densities of the Sun and of other stars can be determined with surprisingly little information. Not needed are their masses, volumes, or distance from Earth. For the Sun, the average density can be determined with an error of a fraction of a percent using experimental data that can be obtained in a few minutes. For other stars the average density can't be determined so quickly and easilyùbut it can be determined with surprisingly little information.

Tablet PC Enhanced Lectures
Roger Hanke North Central Technical College

Two Types of Traveling Physics Outreach
Jim Reardon UW Madison
At UW-Madison in the past two decades there have been two successful but independent Physics outreach endeavors that travel off-campus to visit schools, each of which largely owes its existence to a single industrious person: "Nine Experiments for a Third Grade Hour," by Connie Blanchard, and "The Wonders of Physics Traveling Show," by Clint Sprott. Each of these outreach efforts is distinguished by the tacit provision of an coherent intellectual framework. Each is quite tolerant of modifications, depending on the taste of the presenter. Plans for increasing the number of active presenters will be discussed. Descriptive materials will be distributed.

POSTERS

Consequences of a Small Black Hole Created at the Large Hadron Collider
Michelle Stephens University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
In a tongue-in-cheek op-ed that appeared in the New York Times (p. A-19) on August 23, 2008, writer Gail Collins mused on the possibility that the Large Hadron Collider, once it begins operation, might produce a small black hole that would devour our planet and end all life as we know it. Collins' essay inspired our investigation into the trajectories of a hypothetical black hole created at the LHC. We consider both an evaporating and a non-evaporating black hole and take into account the increase in the black hole's cross section as it plows through Earth's interior. We use classical Newtonian dynamics and a fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm for calculating trajectories. Results will be presented, along with reasons to feel reassured that the LHC will not produce a black hole that will swallow the earth. .

ICETOP LATITUDE SURVEY 2009
Samantha Jakel, Kyle Jero, Drew Anderson, Jim Madsen, Paul Evenson, Searpa Tilav, John Bieber, John Clem UW-River Falls, UW-Rock County, U of Delaware

Thinning Cosmic Ray Shower Simulations
Kyle Bindrim, Alessio Tamburro UW-Waukesha, UW-Whitewater, UW-River Falls

Investigation of Water Height Effects on Cosmic Ray Count
Drew Anderson, Kyle Jero, Jessica Graveson, Samantha Jakel UW-River Falls, UW-Rock County

Determining Object Size and Distance From Camera Settings
Nathan Harris, Roman Khypun UW-Oshkosh, Normandale Community College

Effect of Weather Conditions on Cosmic Ray Detection Rate
Nathan Harris, Roman Khypun UW-Oshkosh, Normandale Community College

Simulations of Photon Transport in the South Pole Ice Using A Graphical Processor Unit
Abby Riddick UW-River Falls

Comparison of GPU and CPU Photon Transport Simulations for IceCube
Mary Murphy and Tareq AbuZayyad UW-Madison and UW-River Falls

To get an idea of past subjects see the listings for our past meetings 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

For more information please contact the WAPT meeting coordinator vicepresident@wapt.org
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