Until my junior year, I held a strong, yet unfounded, opinion that physics was boring. To me, physics was applied algebra showing how trains collide and gravity pulls bowling balls off skyscrapers. But one day, my older brother returned from a lecture given by a candidate for a professorship at Bard College about quantum gravity, and fervently recommended that I look out for this lecturer. Later in the summer of my sophomore year, I found out that the quantum gravity lecturer, Hal Haggard, was indeed accepted as a new Assistant Professor of Physics at Bard. All new Bard physics professors must begin their careers by teaching Introductory Physics, so I realized this was the perfect opportunity to test the waters of the subject. Within weeks, …show more content…
Balancing the mathematical equation of the drag force and gravitational force with the electric force, I could, therefore, solve for the electrical charge on each droplet. As expected, I calculated a somewhat subtle result: all the droplets that were irradiated carried a multiple of a "fundamental" negative charge. This fundamental charge is the charge of just a single electron, and one can note the reason that the total charge per droplet is a multiple of the fundamental charge is that different amounts of electrons "stick" to each droplet. Such a relatively simple experiment can argue for an amazing result! Due to Millikan's efforts, scientists can calculate the value of the charge of the electron with extraordinary precision - an equally impressive feat considering the minuscule value of the fundamental charge, approximately 1.602 x 10-19 Coulombs. This experiment is but one example of a multitude of experiments that inspired me, and with each one, my passion for physics
The “Doing Nothing” experiment exposed me to a new way of seeing things and also a new level of awkwardness. Standing still in a public place for ten minutes, with people walking past you and starring you down like you are some crazy person is quite the experience. You begin to understand that people take great notice of anything that seems out of the ordinary to them. This is because our society has developed and enacted so many societal norms in today’s day and age.
The problem that was arisen in Problem #5: Motion up an Incline was in reference to a change in acceleration in both an uphill and downhill motion. The question on hand was whether or not the acceleration was the same going uphill as it was downhill or different from each other in both directions. To obtain a secure conclusion this experiment required the use of a frictionless cart, an inclined ramp, motion sensor, meter stick, and assistance of computer programs. These tools help us to achieve/correct our predictions by giving us precise information about the acceleration of the cart in both the up and downhill direction.
Several years ago I viewed the video of Jane Elliot’s experiment with her third graders and I was
In a present day conference on whether physics can provide valuable, genuine knowledge of the world, two people sit, listening attentively. Both people are deep in thought about their own theories on the subject. One, David Hume, shakes his head in outright denial. While most those in the conference are in agreement that physics can, indeed, provide genuine knowledge, he contends that physics and mathematics provide nothing at all. In fact, he thinks to himself, only things that can be divvied up into various sensory impressions provide genuine knowledge and, since mathematics and sciences cannot (particularly because they rely on causal relationships) they are essentially a waste of time.
Physics can be found in all aspects of our lives and the world around us including the activities in which we find the most enjoyment. They may not be noticeable to the naked eye or even to our senses but they are there and when we become familiar with the concepts of physics then we began to ‘see’ physics everywhere.
Ms. Kinney showed me the physics in everything from toys to poetry. We discussed Walt Whitman's "When I heard the Learn'd Astronomer" and Robert Frost's "Birches" along with Newton's Laws and Einstein's Theory of Relativity. She had an amazing ability to teach the most complicated concepts in physics without letting us lose sight of the simple wonder of it all. She made physics come alive for me.Ms. Kinney's class was one of the most rigorous and demanding courses that I have faced, but she gave me so much more than she asked of me. She taught me to love learning and physics, and to appreciate the magic and excitement of discovering and mastering new knowledge. Many students got so caught in the difficulty and high expectations of her class that they did not realize the opportunity we were being given.With Ms.
Segre, Kaplan, Schiff and Teller. Great Men of Physics: The Humanistic Element in Scientific Work. Los Angeles, CA: Tinnon-Brown, Inc., Book Publishers, 1969.
From a very young age, I have enjoyed reading a wide spectrum of topics. However, during high school, I had become preoccupied with physics during my studies and readings, and so I began to focus my attention upon the materials that further shed light on the science. The more I read, the more I became intrigued with the interrelations between matter, energy, and time and space motion illustrated through the science. Therefore, motivated to become one of Saudi Arabia’ few female physicists, upon graduating from high school I opted to major in the science that captivated me like no other....
Stemming from the first years of the 20th century, quantum mechanics has had a monumental influence on modern science. First explored by Max Planck in the 1900s, Einstein modified and applied much of the research in this field. This begs the question, “how did Einstein contribute to the development and research of quantum mechanics?” Before studying how Einstein’s research contributed to the development of quantum mechanics, it is important to examine the origins of the science itself. Einstein took much of Planck’s experimental “quantum theory” research and applied it in usable ways to existing science. He also greatly contributed to the establishment of the base for quantum mechanics research today. Along with establishing base research in the field, Einstein’s discoveries have been modified and updated to apply to our more advanced understanding of this science today. Einstein greatly contributed to the foundation of quantum mechanics through his research, and his theories and discoveries remain relevant to science even today.
During the first two years of my undergraduate studies, I have devoted to building a solid background in mathematics and physics. I constantly find pleasure in deriving mathematical formulas to experience in my mind the process of turning the physical mechanisms into something of such succinct beauty. And the School of Atmospheric Science at Nanjing University, the top school for this major in China has provided me with a rich environment to excel beyond the curriculum, debating and discussing questions with my professors. My curious and analytical attitude has made me a top student among my peers.
During the seventeenth century, the modern science of physics started to emerge and become a widespread tool used around the world. Many prominent people contributed to the build up of this fascinating field and managed to generally define it as the science of matter and energy and their interactions. However, as we know, physics is much more than that. It explains the world around us in every form imaginable. The study of physics is a fundamental science that helps the advancing knowledge of the natural world, technology and aids in the other sciences and in our economy. Without the field of physics, the world today would be a complete mystery, everything would be different because of the significance physics has on our life as individuals and as a society.
In my opinion this experiment proved to be very valuable if we wish to set up colonies on the Moon or other planets. This experiment is the beginning of the necessary information that will be needed to construct a completely self-sufficient biosphere.
I am applying for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Solid Mechanics to expand on my study of and experience with materials. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Materials Science and Engineering as an undergraduate at UCLA. I now look forward to moving into graduate study in a field of engineering with a related, but different perspective. Materials Science and Engineering has allowed me to explore both materials and other fields within engineering, contributing to my strong interest in combining my study of Materials Science and Engineering with Mechanical Engineering. I have completed basic coursework in most areas of engineering, learning statics, thermodynamics, basic programming, and circuit design. This has provided a strong foundation to continue graduate study in other engineering disciplines. I
Now that you know what my situation was like going into the experiment, I will tell you what I did and what occurred as a result.