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Talks
Mia (Catherine) Ihm– Gravitational Lensing
Ms. Ihm lectured on gravitational lensing and how it is used to find cosmic strings. She discussed ray tracings in optics, and also explained that the ideas of optical physics are similar to the effects of gravitational lensing. She led an activity where students constructed their own 2D model of a cosmic string in space. Lecture summary.
Photos
PDF of Powerpoint Presentation
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Nikhil Padmanabhan– Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Dr. Padmanabhan gave a fascinating presentation on Dark Matter and Dark Energy. He explained that regular matter only comprises about 4% of the universe - the rest is composed of dark matter and dark energy. He also presented supporting scientific evidence. Lecture summary.
Video clip: Gravity and universe expansion
Video clip: Universe structure
Video clip: Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Photos
PPT Video
PDF of Powerpoint Presentation
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CMB Color Code – Laurie Kerrigan
The students were given a white handout of the Cosmic Microwave Background and colored pens. The task was to color the CMB by the numbers according to their fluctuations. The students were asked questions related to the
importance of the fluctuations in the CMB.
Photos
CMB Coloring Worksheet
CMB Worksheet Questions
CMB Worksheet Answers
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Trey Jalbert - Electromagnetic Spectrum
Each student and teacher was given a diffraction grating slide and a handout that showed the emission spectra for various elements. They then studied the spectra of different gases emitted from arc lamps and were shown the physics behind how the lamp works. The students examined and discussed the differences they saw in the spectral lines as well as the atomic physics behind the emission and absorption of light. Many astrophysics examples were explored as practical uses for spectroscopy.
Photos
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 Rollie Otto - Vernier / LoggerPro
Dr. Otto used the Vernier program to teach students how to graph objects and find the acceleration caused by gravity. The students made short videos of themselves throwing a variety of balls. The videos were then imported into Vernier where the data was graphically analyzed to determine the value of g on earth.
Photos
Video of ball toss analyzed by Vernier software
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Laurie Kerrigan - History of the Universe on TP
Using the Universe Adventure website as a guide, the students chose an appropriate time scale to map the history of the universe on a roll of toilet paper. Diagrams, pictures, and text were added to help explain the model.
Photos
TP Universe directions
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Sean Fottrell - Supernova’s Age of the Universe, Hubble Constant, and
Acceleration
Sean Fottrell explained how the age of the universe is determined by using the supernova’s red-shift to calculate the Hubble Constant. Also discussed was how this has changed over time.
Photos
PPT - Expanding Universe
Worksheet - Expanding Universe
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Relativity and Time Dilation - Glen Melnik
Glen Melnik illustrated Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity using a theoretical scenario of a person in a room traveling at relativistic speed. There is a clock in the room consisting of a photon beam bouncing between the ceiling and the floor. The photon beam must travel a larger distance when set in motion than when at rest - making the clock "tick" slower. Glen used simple trigonometry and algebra to show the students a derivation of the Lorentz Transformations from the assumptions of Special Relativity.
 Cosmic Ray Detector Cosmic rays are produced in our atmosphere when high-energy particles (mostly protons, alpha particles, and C/N/O nuclei) from outer space interact with atmospheric particles. This reaction produces new particles including pions, which decay into muons detectable on the surface of Earth as cosmic rays. The two main sources of cosmic rays are our sun and supernovae. They typically have a range of energies between 109 electron volts to 1020 electron volts. When the muons travel through a spark chamber such as this one, their paths become visible in the form of light due to their charge.
Video - Cosmic Ray Detector
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Black Body Spectrum, Heat and Temperature - Rollie Otto
 Students took temperature readings of each other and objects in the room using non-contact thermometers. Rollie Otto described a blackbody spectrum and how it relates to heat and temperature. The Stefan-Boltzmann law was explained along with its application to astrophysics. He used the following interactive website that showed the spectra while manipulating the wavelength and temperature axes:
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/blackbody/blackbody.swf
Photos
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Particle Chart Team Puzzle Making - Laurie Kerrigan
In preparation for the Standard Model of Fundamental Particles and Interactions lectures, students used the Fundamental Particles and Interactions chart to create puzzles.
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle Directions
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Additional Resources and Web Sites
The Particle Adventure Website
History and Structure of Universe
Standard Model of Particles and Interactions
Evolution of Energy and Matter in the Universe / Chemical Evolution of the Universe
What's Next
Workshop Homepage
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