Undergraduate Physics at. Hampton, Virginia

Transcription

1 Undergraduate SPIN-UP Physics September at Hampton 12, 2009 University Undergraduate Physics at Hampton University Doyle emple Chair, Department of Physics and Jan angana Director for Education and Outreach Hampton, Virginia

2 Background: Graduate Program Private University funded through an endowment ~5500 Undergraduates and ~ 600 Graduate Students 14 aculty, ~12 Postdocs, ~6 Research aculty ~40 Graduate Students and ~20 ajors Research Programs: Nuclear Physics, Laser Spectroscopy, Laser Remote Sensing, Nanomaterials, High Energy Physics (CERN) edical Physics Program (EVS) Proton Beam Cancer herapy reatment acility

3 Background: Undergraduate Program (Pre 2004) 250 Biology students per semester in non-calculus based physics 130 Engineering, Chemistry, athematics, Physics, and Architecture students in calculus based physics ypical upper level courses Problems: Physics ajors were not prepared to fully take advantage of the introductory physics course. his propagated throughout their matriculation through the program. heir scientific writing and oral presentation ti skills were not developing at the appropriate level.

4 Systemic Problems: he first semester of physics required majors to use math skills that they would not attain through the math curriculum until much later. his lack of math preparation caused majors to struggle unnecessarily in the upper level physics courses. here was no organized approach to developing students scientific methods and oral presentation skills. he student enrollment for physics was based primarily on walk-ons. Objective: ix these four problems for the physics majors.

5 Strategies: Create an honors calculus-based physics course that would require a co-requisite honors computational physics course. Create a computational physics course for the sophomore year in order to prepare e students ts for echanics, cs, E&, and Quantum. Create a four-year seminar course that would prepare students for scientific writing and oral presentations. Create a senior capstone thesis course that would require students to complete a bachelor s thesis on original research written in AIP Style anual format, and would require students to present an oral defense.

6 reshman Year Introductory Physics with Calculus I & II Introduction to physics using advanced mathematical approaches including calculus and differential equations. Computational Physics I & II Basic techniques for mathematical ti and computer modeling of physical systems with emphasis on topics in introductory physics. Experimental Physics I & II Introduction to experimental physics, computerized data acquisition, and statistical data analysis. Communication in Physics I & II Provides a discussion of physics topics by students, faculty and invited speakers. Emphasis is placed on developing writing d tti kill Sophomore Year odern Physics I & II Introduction to relativity, quantum structure of atoms, atomic spectra, Schrodinger s equation, nuclear models, radioactive decay, solid state physics and elementary particles. Computational Physics III & IV Advanced techniques for mathematical and computer modeling of physical systems with emphasis on topics in modern physics, mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, and quantum physics. Experimental Physics III & IV Advanced techniques in experimental physics with emphasis on topics in modern physics. Communication in Physics III & IV Provides a discussion of physics topics by and presentation skills. students, faculty and invitedi speakers. Emphasis is placed on developing writing and presentation skills.

7 Junior Year echanics I & II Advanced treatment of Newton s laws oscillatory motion, central-force problems and Hamiltonian and Lagrangian dynamics. hermodynamics (2nd semester) Introduction to thermodynamic systems, equations of state, first and second laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, heat engines, and statistical mechanics. Electrodynamics I & II Advanced treatment of electrostatics, dielectrics, electric currents, electromagnetic induction, magnetic fields, axwell s equations, boundary-value problems, vector wave equations, and electromagnetic radiation from accelerated charges. Communication in Physics V & VI Provides a discussion of physics topics by students, faculty and invited speakers. Emphasis is placed on developing writing and presentation skills. Undergraduate Physics at Hampton University 3 echnical Electives Students headed to graduate school in physics use these electives to obtain a minor in mathematics, etc. Senior Year Quantum echanics I & II General formalism of quantum mechanics including: state space, Dirac notation, matrix mechanics, angular momentum, ideal particles and the exclusion principle, many electron atoms, the periodic table, ermi and Bose gases, and perturbation theory. Communication in Physics VII Provides a discussion of physics topics by students, faculty and invited speakers. Emphasis is placed on developing writing and presentation tti skills. Capstone hesis (Not Required for the Pre-ed Option) Students complete an in-depth technical report based on independent physics related research. he thesis is written in standard American Institute of Physics format and bound copies are retained by the university, the advisor and the student.

8 Communications in Physics Capstone hesis (Not Required for the Pre-ed Option) Communication in Physics I - VII Provides a discussion of physics topics by students, Seniors complete an in-depth technical report faculty and invited speakers. based on independent d physics related ltd research. Committee selected, proposal accepted. Emphasis is placed on developing writing and presentation skills. he thesis is written in standard American Institute of Physics format and bound copies are Department faculty give talks on their research retained ti din the university it library. providing the students with an introduction to the various research being performed on campus. Invited speakers recruit for graduate schools, offer summer internships or other opportunities, or provide information on careers. he physics family is promoted; class camaraderie is established; and retention is maximized. Involvement in campus events such as Honors College, and School of Science encouraged. Outreach Rocket Club; utoring; Demonstrations. All students are placed in summer programs 3 echnical Electives Students headed to graduate school in physics use these electives to obtain a minor in mathematics, etc.

9 Curriculum Example reshman Physics all Schedule Day Intro Physics with Calculus I -Noon Day Computational Physics I -Noon Day Experimental Physics I 2:00pm Day Communications in Physics I h 4:00pm Significant igures/units Kinematic otion Algebra Algebra and rigonometry Introduction to Data Studio Laboratory Safety h Organizational eeting SPS eeting Kinematic otion Kinematic otion rigonometry and Vectors Introduction to Data Studio h aculty Presentations Kinematic otion: Kinematic otion Vectors Laboratory Safety est 1: Kinematic otion Newton s Laws Newton s Laws Logarithms and Exponentials Calculus: Derivatives Position, Velocity and Acceleration h aculty Presentations Newton s Laws Newton s Laws est 2: Newton s Laws Gravity Gravity/ Kepler s Laws Kepler s Laws est 3: Gravity ork and Energy ork and Energy Conservation of Energy Conservation of Energy est 4: Conservation of Energy Center of ass and omentum Conservation of omentum Conservation of omentum est 5: omentum Rotational Kinematics Rotational Kinematics oment of Inertia orque Angular omentum est 6: Rotational otion Static Equilibrium Calculus: Derivatives/Integrals Calculus: Integrals Conic Sections: Orbits Conic Sections: Orbits Projectile otion h Student Presentations SPS eeting Newton s Second Law h Student Presentations irst Order Differential Equations Newton s Second Law: Differential orm h Student Presentations Newton s Second Law: Differential orm Conservation of Energy h aculty Presentations Newton s Second Law: Differential orm SPS eeting Coordinate Systems Calculus: Center of ass Calculus: Impulse Integrals ultivariable Calculus: h Student Presentations Conservation of omentum h Student Presentations oment of Inertia ultivariable Calculus: oment of Inertia h aculty Presentations ultivariable Calculus: oment of Inertia SPS eeting Cross Products and Simultaneous Eqs. Rotational otion h Student Presentations Complex Variables Static Equilibrium luids hanksgiving Second Order Differential Equations hanksgiving Hooke s Law h Student Presentations luids est 7: Statics and luids luids/sound Sound emperature and Ideal Gas Simple Harmonic otion Simple Harmonic otion aves Oral Exams Pendulum otion h Student Presentations Buoyant orce h Student Presentations SPS eeting

10 Curriculum Example reshman Physics Spring Schedule Day Intro Physics with Calculus II Noon Day Computational Physics II h Noon Day Experimental Physics II 2:00pm Day Communications in Physics II 4:00pm emperature and Ideal Gas Ideal Gas & Kinetic heory Complex Variables Second Order Differential Equations emperature and Heat h Organizational eeting SPS eeting Ideal Gas & Kinetic heory Holiday est 1: Complex Variables h aculty Presentations est 1: Ideal Gas and Kinetic Heat Harmonic Oscillators Heat Heat Engines Heat Engines Harmonic Oscillators Harmonic Oscillators Specific Heat h Student Presentations Entropy Entropy est 2: hermodynamics Charge Charge Gauss s Law Gauss s Law Electric Potential Electric Potential est 3: Electrostatics Capacitors Resisters RC Circuits Inductors RLC Circuits est 4: Circuits agnetism Sources of agnetism Sources of agnetism Induction Induction est 5: agnetism axwell s Equations axwell s Equations axwell s Equations axwell s Equations Vectors 3D est 2: Harmonic Oscillators Cylindrical and Spherical Polar ultivariate Calculus ultivariate Calculus Vector Calculus Vector Calculus Vector Calculus/Linear Algebra Complex Variables est 3: Gradient, Divergence and Curl Cross Products Cross Products Ideal Gas h Student Presentations h aculty Presentations SPS eeting h Student Presentations Ohm s Law h Student Presentations RC Circuits h aculty Presentations RLC Circuits h Student Presentations SPS eeting S f ti aves Sources of fagnetic ields h Student t Presentations ti aves est 5: Cross Products h Student Presentations Vector Calculus est 6: axwell s Equations Reflection and Refraction Reflection and Refraction hin Lenses Interference Interference/Diffraction Diffraction axwell s Equations axwell s Equations est 7: Ch Oral Exams est 6: axwell s Equations Geometry and rigonometry Special unctions: Diffraction est 7: Geometry, rigonometry & Special unctions h Student Presentations SPS eeting Simple Lenses h Senior Capstone hesis Defense Superposition h Senior Capstone hesis Defense

11 Recruiting i Undergraduate Physics at Hampton University SA Student Locator Service ailed about 700 Packets to prospective students

12 or more information Contact Jan angana