July 13–17, 2013
39
Session SPS: SPS Undergraduate and
Graduate Outreach Poster Session
Location: Exhibit Hall
Sponsor: Committee on Physics in Undergraduate Education
Date: Sunday, July 14
Time: 8–10 p.m.
Presider: Toni Sauncy
SPS01: 8-10 p.m. Similar Density Questions with Very Different Results
Poster – Ashley E. Lindow,* Grove City College, 200 Campus Drive, Grove City, PA
16127;
Elizabeth Carbone, DJ Wagner, Grove City College
While developing a standardized fluids assessment covering buoyancy and pres-
sure, we discovered deficiencies in student understanding of density. In particular,
many college students do not recognize that density is a fixed property of a solid
substance, such as aluminum or gold. We added questions to our diagnostic exam
to probe the extent of student difficulties. In one of our questions, only 50-60% of
students recognize that the density of gold is a fixed value. When similar questions
from an existing diagnostic
1
are used, however, 85-90% of students correctly iden-
tify the density of a piece of wood and of a diamond as fixed values. In this paper
we discuss the differences between these questions and how those differences affect
student responses.
1.
R. Yeend, M. Loverude, and
B. Gonzalez, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2001, Rochester, New
York, 2001, WWW Document, (
.
cfm?ID=4313&DocID=1045).
*Sponsored by DJ Wagner
SPS02: 8-10 p.m. A Low-Cost Photolithography System for
Simple Device Fabrication
Poster – Chris Nuzzi,* Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC 29526;
Christopher Moore, Coastal Carolina University
We have built and tested a mask-less photolithographic prototyping system using
a low-cost consumer digital projector and an inexpensive trinocular stereomi-
croscope. Photolithography is a key step in the fabrication of modern electronic
devices. Specifically, we have used the microscope optics in reverse to project
micrometer-sized patterns onto substrates spin-coated in commercially obtained
photoresist. Patterns can be designed quickly using presentation software, such as
PowerPoint, and developed in under one hour. We present optical and atomic force
microscopy images of our university logo at micrometer scale outlined in aluminum
on a silicon substrate. We also present the fabrication of metal-semiconductor-
metal (MSM) photodetector devices and their characterization.
*Sponsored by Christopher Moore. Funded by NSF DMR 1104600.
SPS03: 8-10 p.m. An Accretion Model for a Falling Raindrop*
Poster – Ngan Le, Montgomery College, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
This mechanics problem involves a raindrop gaining mass due to accretion as it falls
through a cloud of droplets in a non-uniform gravitational field. This article inves-
tigates the motion of very small droplets, those of diameter less than 0.003 inches,
which are falling at relatively slow speed, less than 0.188 m/s. With these condi-
tions, the raindrop is experiencing mostly laminar air flow without turbulent air
flow when the Reynolds number is less than 1. Using both analytical and numerical
methods, we are able to predict the existence of terminal velocity of falling raindrop,
and terminal acceleration in the case of accretion. This mathematical model of fall-
ing raindrops proposes a relationship to rocket ship problem which is considered a
reversed process.
*The research was conducted under the support of a FIPSE grant from the Department of
Education, and a STEM-access grant.
Sunday, July 14
Highlights
AAPT Workshops at Portland State University;
W35 and W40 are at Vernier Software & Technology
REGISTRATION
7 a.m.–4 p.m. Plaza Foyer
Publications Committee 7:30–10 a.m.
Studio Suite
Meetings Committee 7:30–10 a.m.
Forum Suite
Focused Discussion:
Development of Effective
Assessment to Inform Instruction in Undergraduate
Physics 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Broadway I
Programs Committee I 4–5:30 p.m.
Broadway III/IV
SI Units & Metric Ed. Com. 4–5:30 p.m. Forum Suite
Section Representatives 5–8 p.m.
Broadway I/II
H.S. Share-a-Thon 6–8 p.m. Broadway III/IV
REGISTRATION
7:30–9 p.m.
Plaza Foyer
Exhibit Hall Opens / Welcome Reception
8–10 p.m.
Exhibit Hall
SPS Undergraduate Research and Outreach Poster
Session and Reception
8–10 p.m. Exhibit Hall
