PH2010 Sophomore Seminar (0-1-0) 1 Credit (Fall Semester 2007)


When:
Friday, 8:00 - 9:00 am

Instructors:

Max Seel
seel@mtu.edu
Dean, College of Sciences and Arts
Office: 201 Walker
487-2156
Office Hours: By appointment

Where:
Fisher 133



  David Nitz
dfnitz@mtu.edu
Physics Department
303 Dow Bldg
487-2274

 



Course Description:

In this seminar, students will present and discuss areas of physics of their choice. Discussion of recent research and developments in physics and/or of critical/controversial society/science issues are encouraged. Students will prepare either alone or as a team a topic of their interest and present it as a seminar to the class. Any form or medium of presentation, i.e., blackboard, overhead, powerpoint,computer, web, etc., is encouraged. The course instructor(s) will facilitate and encourage questions and act as resource person(s) in the preparation.


Course Rationale:

Students interested in physics are exposed to current areas of study in physics to help put their course work in perspective. In addition, students work on individual presentation skills essential for a practicing professional. This course is required for the Physics and Applied Physics Majors.



Goals:
to develop


Grades:
based on


Typical Outline for a Presentation:

Introduction
	Why are you, why would anyone be interested in this topic?

Method
	Describe theoretical background or experimental set-up;
	use and apply whenever possible equations you have
	learned in introductory physics;

Results & Discussion
	The main portion of your presentation;
	contains all what you want to convey to your audience about your topic;

Summary
	summarize the key points and highlights you want your audience to remember

Abstract&Bibliography
	Prepare a written 1-page summary and survey of the literature.



Schedule Fall Semester 2007-08:

to be announced
WeekPresenterTopic
Sept 7Seel/Nitz 1. Introduction to course
Sept 14Seel/Nitz
Samuel Tootle
1. Finalizing Schedule
2. TOE: The Theory of Everything
Sept 211. Dominique Blair
2. Anthony Szedlak
Biophysics
Nuclear Energy
Sept 281. Daniel Miller
2. Hansen Nordsiek
Big Bang
Fluid Dynamics
Oct 51. Daniel Messinger
2. Max Seel
Roller Coaster
Tachyons
Oct 12Mark Hopkins
Erich Kinder
Astrophysics
Oct 19Victor Bollen
Brett Giles
Antimatter
Oct 261. Andrew Buccilli
2. Jason Cook
Black Holes
Neutrinos and Astrophysics
Nov 21. David Varner
2. Steven Purol
Space-Time
Quantum Computer
Nov 9Aaron DeWahl
Frank McGuire
Coriolis Effect and Meterology
Nov 161. John Hennen
2. Valerie Hallfrisch
Quarks
Astronomy
Nov 23Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Nov 301. Christopher Schafer Nanomedicine
Dec 71. Curtis Hunt
2. Mark Hopkins
Gravity
Kaye Effect
Dec 14 Amanda Willey Hurricanes



Example Schedule Fall Semester 2006-07:

WeekPresenterTopic
Sept 8Seel/Beck 1.Introduction to course
2. Tachyons
Sept 15Seel/Beck
Freeman
1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Photonic Crystals
Sept 22Johnson
Dunkman
Cosmic Rays
Neutrino Flavor Oscillations
Sept 29 Bougher, Conrad
Husted, Rojas
Global Warming
Oct 61. Deschaine
2. Hinkley
Antimatter
Spectroscopy
Oct 131. Conrad
2. Luo
Solar Cells
Nanotechnologyy
Oct 201. Boluyt
2. Beck
Gravitons
Atomic Structure - Beauty, Utility, Challenge
Oct 27Galbraith - Butler Solar System
Nov 3Meyers - Kruse M - Theory
Nov 101. Williams
2. Wullaert
Quantum Computer
Teleportation
Nov 171. Lederbuhr
2. Carlin
Space Time
Time Travel
Nov 24Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Dec 1 1. Nerat
2. Seewald
Antimatter
Tsunamis and Earthquakes
Dec 8DeGabriele Plasma Cosmology
Dec 15zzz ZZZZ



Example Schedule Fall Semester 2005-06:

WeekPresenterTopic
Sept 2Seel/Jaszczak 1.Introduction to course
2. Tachyons
Sept 9Seel/Jaszczak
Crouch
1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Our Sun
Sept 16Houts Magnetars
Sept 23 Coupland The Mass of the Galaxy
Sep 30 Huyck-Ames Time Travel
Oct 71. Gussert
2. King
Carbon Nanotubes
Dark Matter
Oct 14Wiley The Edge of the Universe
Oct 21Wiley The Edge of the Universe cont.
Oct 28Meier - Kangas - Raygor Space Travel
Nov 4Irish - Hegg Geomagnetics
Nov 11Isaac - Weinmann The Physics of Frisbee
Nov 18Shue - Kelley-Hoskins Quantum Entanglement
Nov 25Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Dec 2 1. Kilpela
2. Blanchard
Roller Coasters
Time Travel
Dec 9Thorne - Niffenegger - Gookin
Banyai
Special & General Relativity
Peculiarities of Very Cold Things



Example Schedule Fall Semester 2004-05:

WeekPresenterTopic
Sept 3Seel/Jaszczak 1.Introduction to course
2. Tachyons
Sept 10Seel/Jaszczak 1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Monte Carlo Simaulation of Quantum Dots
Sept 17DeConinck Carbo-Nanotubes
Sept 24Robinson Ice Nucleation Methods
Oct 1Lutze Polymers
Oct 8Moran Physics of 3D Animation
Oct 15Grochowski/Schalk Alternate Energy Sources
Oct 22Scholfield Time Traveler
Oct 29 Emerick Dark Matter
Nov 51. Stone (Seel out-of-town)
2. Domeier
1.Afshar Double Slit Experiment
2. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
Nov 121. Schaller (Seel out-of-town)
2. Carlson
1. Superconductors
2. Supernovae
Nov 19Koebke Supercritical Fluid Extraction
Nov 26Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Dec 3Rosten Special Relativity
Dec 10Aden Physics of Pole Vaulting
Dec 13Sneller Nuclear Weapons



Example Schedule Fall Semester 2003-04:

WeekPresenterTopic
Aug 29Seel/Rafert 1.Introduction to course
2. CONCAM and Sky Extinction
Sept 5Seel 1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Tachyons
Sept 12Schou Optical Biological Systems
Sept 19Hester Dr. Demo
Sept 26Merlo Faster-Than-Light Travel
Oct 3Muzzin Gamma Ray Bursts
Oct 10Fong Scattering of Light by Droplets
Oct 17Domeier Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Oct 24 Resler (Seel out-of-town) Bose-Einstein Condensation
Oct 31Peters Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Nov 7Cordell Future of Solar System Explorations
Nov 14Nelson (Seel out-of-town) Proton Decay (Particle Physics)
Nov 21Nishimura 18th Century Measurements of the Distance to Mars
Nov 28Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Dec 5Ryba Audio Physics: Loudspeaker and Transducer Design
Dec 12Davenport/Kaczynski Physics of Musical Instruments



Schedule Fall Semester 2002-03:

WeekPresenterTopic
Aug 27Seel/Rafert Introduction to course
Sept 3Seel 1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Tachyons
Sept 10RafertAstrophysics/Astronomy
Sept 17Anderson Computational Physics
Sept 24Price Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
Oct 1Kincade Relativity
Oct 8McCaffery Quantum Computing
Oct 16Phelps Universality
Oct 22Perez Photoelectric Effect
Oct 29Nelson Jet Engines and Rockets
Nov 5Mosher Physics of Motorcycles
Nov 12 Tracey Schroedinger's Cat
Nov 19Lewis Cosmology
Nov 26Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Dec 3Copps Physics of Ski Waxing
Dec 10Ftaclas Solar Gravitational Lensing



Schedule Fall Semester 2001-02:

WeekPresenterTopic
Sept 4Seel 1. Introduction to course
2. Tachyons
Sept 11Seel/Rafert1. Finalizing Schedule
2. Overview of Physics Dept
Sept 18Hackbarth Superconductivity
Sept 25Fleming/Occhipinti Astronomical Photometry
Oct 2Vestal Binary Star Systems
Oct 9Lapham Space-Time
Oct 16Sells Gravity
Oct 23Ulmen/Lightfoot Break-Through Propulsion
Oct 30open TBA
Nov 6Foster QED
Nov 13 Aneshansel Technology in the Rozsa Performing Arts Center
Nov 20Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Nov 27 open TBA
Dec 4Borysow Laser
Dec 11Hester Dr. Demo




Schedule Fall Semester 2000-01:

WeekPresenterTopic
1Seel 1. Introduction to course
2. Tachyons
2Rafert1. Overview of Physics Dept
2. Remote Sensing
Sept 12Erickson Magnetic Levitation
Sept 19Harrington Electrical Signal Amplification and Conversion
Sept 26Guzman Fusion
Oct 3Timmerman Extreme Low Temperatures
Oct 10Black Deep Space Probe/Exploration
Oct 17Kilpela Physics of Sound
Oct 24Boline Mass & Higgs Boson
Oct 31Johannsen Black Holes
Nov 7Mazur Magnetrons
Nov 14Hagood Physics of Electric Guitar
Nov 21Thanksgiving Recess   no classes
Nov 28 Aneshansel Technology in the Rozsa Performing Arts Center
Dec 5Borysow Laser
Dec 12Hester Dr. Demo



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Last Modified: 6-September-2007 15:20 EDT