University of Arkansas---Department of Physics---Fall 2000
Arkansas Physics
What's up for undergrads and teachers at UA?
In many places around the country, enrollment in physics programs is declining, because programs cater only to graduate-school bound physics majors, intent on a Ph.D.  At Arkansas, enrollments are climbing, and graduation rates are reaching new highs.  Recent surveys of major corporations found that the average college education did not adequately prepare students to take their place in the work force of the future. We still provide everything a student may need to pursue a Ph.D. Several of our students who have gone away to graduate school in physics have received fellowships to do so, a recognition beyond the usual assistantship.  We also provide a rich experience for students who wish to go into industry, teach, program, go on to a professional program such as law, business or medicine, or any number of other alternatives. We have been careful to make sure our program has good career opportunities for students wanting to finish with a bachelor's degree.  All of our undergraduates find an opportunity to get involved in a rewarding research experience.  Some are staying on to participate in one of our novel new masters programs, an MA designed for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching, and a completely new kind of masters degree with two options, applied physics, or microelectronics-photonics, designed to give our students an advantage in today's and tomorrow's workforce.
Our Department has also been chosen as one of four pilot sites for the Preparing Future Faculty Program in Physics.  While this is a program that has been supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts and run by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Council on Graduate Schools for many years as general university-wide programs, to better prepare the future college faculty we need, it had little impact on the sciences. The National Science Foundation, together with the American Association of Physics Teachers, foresaw that not only could this be a great way to enhance preparation of graduate students intending to be college faculty, but it was a great was to make sure UNDERGRADUATES got a better education, by making sure that not only the professors of the future, but the teaching assistants of today were better prepared. Since this was an area our department was already recognized for, the AAPT and NSF decided we would be an excellent institution to develop a model for other universities!
We are also under consideration to be one of 6-8 pilot programs for the Physics Teacher Education Coalition.  This program, would provide excellent preparation for future physics and physical science teachers, as well as providing professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers around the state.  If you are interested in finding out more about the PhysTEC program, please contact the site-leader, Gay Stewart, at gstewart@uark.edu, or check out the American Physical Society web site at http://www.aps.org/educ/overview.html, click on News and Announcements.
Visit us:  http://www.uark.edu/depts/physics/
HS Resources: http://www.uark.edu/depts/physics/highsch.html -or- some physical science-level activities can be found at http://www.uark.edu/depts/physinfo/up2/k-12/k-12.html -or- some physics class electricity, magnetism and optics activities can be found at http://130.184.202.16/Resources/classmaterials.htm
Important deadline: March 1, 2001 is the deadline for Physics Scholarship applications. Call, write or see our web page for info.
Some other cool web sites for explorations in physics (Ages: 13-18):

Materials Science and Technology 
Content: A Teacher's Workshop Prepared by the Materials Science and Engineering department at the University of Illinois, U-C.
The MAST modules represent the cumulative efforts of approximately 100 high school teachers, 15 university professors and several graduate and undergraduate students over a three- year development period funded by the National Science Foundation. These materials can be downloaded directly at the address below, or hard copies of the MAST module set may be purchased at $40/set (unlimited copying for your classroom or other activities is encouraged) from: Judy Brewer, c/o MAST Modules, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois (UIUC), 1304 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801. The hard copies are textbook quality format.
The Particle Adventure
Content: Information on particles, an interactive tour of the inner workings of the atom and the tools for discovery. Students can have a great time learning here.  Host: Contemporary Physics Education Project and Particle Data Group; http://ParticleAdventure.org/ 
U.C. Berkeley Physics Lecture Demonstrations
Content: Graphic information on different demonstrations in physics.  This is really for the teachers, or kids that need ideas for science fair projects.  Some great stuff!  Host: University of California at Berkeley http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/ physics/physics.html
How Things Work
Content: Answers questions about different physics topics. This older question list is organized according to the contents of "HOW THINGS WORK: the Physics of Everyday Life" by Louis A. Bloomfield. You may have to search around a bit to find questions on a particular topic. http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW//topics.html There is also a new question list, http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW// home.html and newer questions come in all of the time! Host: University of Virginia. 
Physics 2000
Content: Visual and interactive journey through modern physics and high-tech devices. Host: University of Colorado at Boulder, http://www.Colorado.EDU/physics/2000/index.pl
The NASA Student Involvement Program (NSIP) 
Content: A national competition that features five areas of investigation, recognizes all participants and honors excellence. Offer outstanding learning materials and prizes for teachers and students. Students who participate in these competitions and learning activities will explore their own planet by studying a site in their neighborhood; they'll design space missions; investigate Earth from space; and learn about the latest developments in aeronautics and space exploration. NSIP is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn science by doing science. he deadline for entering Space Flight Opportunities is January 19, 2001. The deadline for all other competitions is February 1, 2001. Host: NASA, http://www.nsip.net/nsipinfo.html (other cool stuff is at www.nasa.gov)

High School Physics Day Registration Form:
Teacher's Name_____________________________School___________________________
School Address  _________________________________________
City/State/Zip/Phone______________________________________
Preregistering ____ students at $2.00 each for a total of $_______ payable to the Physics Department.
Contests(check each your school will be competing in and give the number of teams competing in each):
__Ping Pong Ball Launch   Number of Teams:___                __Egg Drop                            Number of Teams:___                                                                                                                                  
__Bridge Building               Number of Teams:___                __Physics Quiz Bowl              Number of Teams:___
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE DURACELL/NSTA INVENTION CHALLENGE 
The world's largest and oldest middle school and high school student invention program. Awarding over $1 million to students and teachers since 1983. For 6th to 12th grade students. Students design and build battery-operated devices. To enter, submit an essay, wiring diagram, photos and an entry form available at the web site. Awards are in two categories: 6th - 9th and 10th - 12th grades. 100 winners receive savings bonds ranging from $500 to $20,000. Sponsoring teachers win NSTA gifts or computer equipment.
http://www.duracell.com/Fun_Learning/index.html

HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS DAY

The University of Arkansas Physics Department will host its annual High School Physics Day on FRIDAY April 6, 2001. The faculty and members of SPS invite students and teachers from your high school to participate.  Note that a small registration fee is required, and that a pizza lunch will be provided by SPS, making the fee well worthwhile.  Checks may be made payable to “Department of Physics”.  There will be prizes in every category, and a classroom prize for the best school overall.
We hope that this day will encourage the pursuit of physics as a career itself or as a valuable asset to a large number of possible careers by providing an opportunity for detailed projects to be carried out in a light-hearted (and hopefully light-landing) manner.  We also hope to give students and teachers from across the state an opportunity to get acquainted, better inform them about our undergraduate physics programs, and show that fysics is phun.  

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND RULES

8:30 - 8:45	     Registration
8:45 - 9:00	     Introduction and welcome
9:00 - 10:00    Ping-Pong Ball Launch
10:00 - 11:30  Demonstrations, tours of research labs
11:30 - 12:30  Lunch provided by SPS
12:30 - 1:30	Bridge Building
1:30 - 2:30	Quiz Bowl
2:30 - 3:30	Egg Drop
3:30 - 4:00	Physics at U of A, Fayetteville
4:00 - 4:30	Awards ceremony

EGG DROP RULES: No restraining devices or aerodynamic devices may be attached to the container.  The container itself may not be an aerodynamic device.  The maximum height of drop will be 60 to 80 feet.  The winner is the container with the most eggs surviving both drops.  In the event of a tie, the container with the least volume wins.  Each container must hold two raw, unfrozen, untreated chicken eggs. Containers may be of any material but must fit into a cube 50 cm on each side. Containers which may chip the asphalt target will be disqualified.  There will be two drops, and containers must be openable and reclosable to check the eggs between drops.  Limit 3 entries per school.

PHYSICS QUIZ BOWL: Students will estimate the proper orders of magnitude for very large or very small numbers, and match vocabulary terms with their definitions.  Three points for a correct order of magnitude, 1 point if you are one order off, 1 point for vocabulary.  Highest score wins.

POSTER: They should deal with anything related to physics or astronomy.  Posters should be turned in at registration time, and will be judged according to content and artwork.  Entries are limited to one poster per person.

BRIDGE BUILDING: Students build a bridge from the supplied materials that will support the most mass.   The bridge must span a 30 cm gap.  The bridge is considered broken when the can falls off or the bridge buckles.  No preparation is required.  30 minutes will be allotted for construction.  Apparatus -- 1)  Each team will be supplied with 10 straws, 30 cm of masking tape and one piece of 8.5" X 11"  white bond paper. 2) Scissors, one razor blade and a ruler will be provided but may not be used in the actual structure. Materials other than those provided may not be used in the construction of the bridge. The bridge must be built in such a way that it will support a 1lb. coffee can that will be used to hold the masses.
PING-PONG BALL LAUNCH: Students build an apparatus that will launch a Ping-Pong ball the longest straight line distance (best of three shots) from the point of launch to the point of first landing. The launcher must be built before the competition. 10 minutes will be allotted for set up. No combustible material may be used to launch the Ping-Pong ball. Nothing can be attached to the Ping-Pong ball. Standard tournament Ping-Pong balls will be provided. Limit 3 entries per school.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Please fill out the registration form and return before March 16.  Awards will be given for first, second, and third place in the five competitions. Entries by individual high school students and by teams of two members are welcome.  Provisions will be made so that each team member receives an award.  Everyone is encouraged to participate but anyone can come to observe. Judges' decisions are final.  In the event of a tie, the points will be split between the teams.

Editor: Prof. Gay Stewart. Please contact me with comments and suggestions, Dept. of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; call: (501) 575-2408,  e-mail: gstewart@uark.edu, or fax:  (501)575-4580.

NEWSLETTER												       
Department of Physics
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701