Fall Semester
Open-Ended Projects
First Quarter
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Heavier skydivers achieve a higher terminal velocity than lighter
ones. Skydivers can adjust their terminal velocities by changing the
shape of their bodies. By systematically studying an analogous situation
with falling balloons, you will be able to quantitatively investigate
the air friction force. By gathering data with the computer-based
data acquisition system in our lab, you can uncover how size of the
air resistance force is mathematically related to an object's speed
and shape through an interesting analysis method. |
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A concentrated mass hanging at the end of a vertical spring sounds
like a simple system, right? The complicated motions that result when
the mass is set oscillating and swinging at the same time will amaze
you. You'll film this motion, chronicle it using VideoPoint, and then
compare the observed motion with the prediction of Newtonian physics.
The analysis required for this experiment is sophisticated and calculus-based.
But for those up to this challenge, you'll be able to get a glimpse
of Newton's description of motion in a complex situation. |
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Hollywood has a knack for making the impossible seem possible. In
many cases it is easy to tell when a "stunt" is computer generated,
but occasionally movie makers will create scenes in which it is very
difficult, if not impossible, to tell if the scenario is realistic.
Using your knowledge of physics, and with the help of VideoPoint,
you will analyze stunts and special effects and determine if they
depict events that could actually take place. Analysis of Hollywood
movies provides a perfect context in which to review the general applicability
and real world relevance of the physical concepts you have encountered.
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You've blamed it before and you'll blame it again, friction is the
most commonly named source of error in physics 100 experiments. A
recent article published in Nature states "It is one of the
dirty little secrets of physics that while we physicists can tell
you a lot about quarks, quasars and other exotica there is still no
universally accepted explanation of the basic laws of friction." Master
the basics of friction here so that you will be the one to convincingly
solve this problem in the future. Verify the claims that friction
is proportional to the normal force, independent of velocity and most
fascinatingly independent of macroscopic surface area! If interested,
research some of the recent findings about friction (from the field
of tribology) and try to explain some of your observations with a
microscopic theory. Maybe you'll be able to invent a better rock-climbing
shoe. |
Second
Quarter
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Conservation of momentum is one of the most useful tools in physics.
Momentum conservation is commonly used in both the macroscopic realm
of mechanics and the microscopic world of elementary particle physics.
In this lab you will first study momentum in the lab with a low friction
air table to limit the sources of error. Then you can apply what you've
learned in the lab to the fascinating example of Billiards. Analyzing
how your favorite trick shot obeys the laws of physics can only make
it more beautiful. |
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Take some objects, connect them together with springs, and what happens?
In this exploration you'll find that they can vibrate in a limited
number of fascinating "natural" patterns, each with its own distinct
"natural" frequency. You'll study these oscillatory patterns on an
easy-to-observe systemÐmasses floating on an air track, connected
together by springsÐusing the Physics 100 lab's computer-based data
acquisition system. But the conclusions you'll draw can be used to
explain phenomenon such as the optical properties of molecules. |
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Dance and the beauty of human movement have always enchanted people.
It is amazing that although the laws of physics are always obeyed
dance has been able to create an incredible variety of movements and
illusions. One famous example is the seeming ability of ballerinas
to float through the air when they leap. Pushing VideoPoint to its
limits you can provide a fascinating analysis of this illusion. This
project involves an extensive analysis of the distribution of mass
in the human body and a great deal of video analysis. |
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Can you break a board with your bare hands? Use high-speed video analysis
and physics to find out. After years of training karate experts can
not only break boards but large blocks of concrete. What skills are
these experts honing? Physical analysis of karate is not only of interest
to physicists but can provide useful feedback to karate experts on
how to train more effectively. For example, why is it that many karate
and kung-fu teachers tell students to evision striking three or four
centimeters into their targets? |
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