New Nucleus collection resources

Gaussian Wave Packet: Step Scattering

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:35:33 EST

The Gaussian Wave Packet: Step Scattering model simulates the time evolution of a free Gaussian wave packet in position space when it is incident on a potential energy step. The position-space wave functions are depicted using three colors on the graph: black which depicts the absolute square of the wave function, blue which depicts the real part of the wave function, and red which depicts the imaginary part of the wave function. The user may change the height of the potential step or the wave packet energy by dragging circles on the energy graph. The initial width of the packet may also be changed. Also shown are the theoretical and calculated transmission and reflection coefficients. The Gaussian Wave Packet: Step Scattering model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_qm_gaussian_step.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

QM Measurement Package

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:08:52 EST

The QM Measurement Launcher package is a self-contained file for the teaching of the measurement (E, x, and p) of energy eigenstates and their superpositions in quantum mechanics. The file contains ready-to-run OSP programs and a curricular materials. One can choose from several pre-set states to perform measurements on: energy eigenstates, two-state superpositions, and wave packets. The QM Measurement package includes two supplemental documents (see below) that contain curricular worksheets in support of the package. The QM Measurement package is an Open Source Physics curricular package written for the teaching of quantum mechanics. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the osp_superposition.jar file will run the package if Java is installed. Other quantum mechanics packages are also available. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or Quantum Mechanics.

General Relativity (GR) Package

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:59:28 EST

The General Relativity (GR) Package is a self-contained file for the teaching of general relativity. The file contains ready-to-run OSP programs and a set of curricular materials. You can choose from a variety of simulations ranging from comparisons between Newtonian mechanics and general relativity to orbits around and into black holes. This application is an Open Source Physics curricular package. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the osp_gr.jar file will run the application if Java is installed. Other resources are also available and can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics or OSP.

PSU/SL Physics Animations Portal

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:44:41 EST

This web site contains a large collection of animations illustrating basic concepts in Physics and Astronomy. It covers topics in Astronomy, Mechanics, Vectors, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Waves, and Modern Physics at both introductory and an advanced undergraduate level. Users can browse by topic or search for relevant animations. Animations can be viewed in a number of different formats, either embedded in a web page or through the downloaded media file.

Boston University Physics Easy Java Simulation: Vector Addition

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:42:52 EST

This simulation gives students a chance to practice two-dimensional vector addition in an interactive format with immediate feedback. The magnitude and direction of two vectors are given; the students' task is to determine x and y components, length of the two vectors, and the resultant sum. Users may select "Check Answers" to find out if their response is correct, or select "Show Answers" to see the correct values displayed. This applet was created with EJS, Easy Java Simulations, a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations.

Charge in Magnetic Field Model

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:42:25 EST

The EJS Charge In B-Field model allows the user to simulate moving charged particles in two identical magnetic field regions separated by a zero magnetic field gap. The Charge in B Field Model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_ntnu_em_ChargeInBField.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Real Time Relativity

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:38:31 EST

This web site hosts a computer program that allows the user to interactively experience a virtual relativistic world. It is available for both Windows and Mac computers. This software is a central element of the project Teaching Physics Using Virtual Reality. It provides a conceptual introduction to special relativity by experiencing it in a virtual world.

Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:36:31 EST

This NASA website contains information about hurricanes and describes how they form, intensify, and then weaken. The site explains the physics of hurricane formation and also the chain reaction that intensifies hurricane so rapidly. Images, diagrams, and charts provide supplementary material.

How to Talk Mathematics

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:34:46 EST

This essay by the late mathematician and expositor Paul Halmos gives advice to young mathematicians on how to give public lectures, specifically at large colloquiums or invited addresses. The work is meant to let potential speakers know about common complaints regarding such talks before giving them. The essay is equally useful for graduate students and new physicists.

STP Lennard-Jones 2D Metropolis Program

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:27:05 EST

The STP LJ2DMetropolis program is a Monte Carlo simulation of Lennard-Jones particles in two dimensions in contact with a heat bath. The default initial condition is a rectangular configuration of N=64 particles in a box of length L = 18 and a temperature T= 1. STP LJ2DMetropolis is part of a suite of Open Source Physics programs that model aspects of Statistical and Thermal Physics (STP). The program is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double-clicking the stp_LJ2DMetropolis.jar file will run the program if Java is installed on your computer. Additional programs can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, STP, or Statistical and Thermal Physics.

OSP: Quantum-mechanical Measurement

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:31:16 EST

This set of quantum mechanics java applets, part of the Open Source Physics project, provides simulations that demonstrate the effect of measurement on the time-dependence of quantum states. Exercises are available that demonstrate the results of measurement of energy, position, and momentum on states in potential wells (square well, harmonic oscillator, asymmetric well, etc). Eigenstates, superpositions of eigenstates, and wave packets can all be studied. Tutorials are also available. The material stresses the measurement of a quantum-mechanical wave function. The simulations can be delivered either through the OSP Launcher interface or embedded in html pages. The source code is available, and users are invited to contribute to the collection's development by submitting improvements. The simulations are available through the "View attached documents" link below.

QM Measurement Program

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:28:43 EST

The QM Measurement program displays the time evolution of the position-space wave function and can be used to simulate the quantum-mechanical measurements of energy, position, and/or momentum. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the qm_measurement.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. The default wave function is an equal-mix four-state superposition in the infinite square well. Additional states and other potential energy functions can be specified using the Display | Switch GUI menu item.

Classical Mechanics

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:14:54 EST

John Taylor has brought to his new book, Classical Mechanics, all of the clarity and insight that made his Introduction to Error Analysis a best-selling text. Classical Mechanics is intended for students who have studied some mechanics in an introductory physics course, such as “freshman physics." With unusual clarity, the book covers most of the topics normally found in books at this level, including conservation laws, oscillations, Lagrangian mechanics, two-body problems, non-inertial frames, rigid bodies, normal modes, chaos theory, Hamiltonian mechanics, and continuum mechanics. A particular highlight is the chapter on chaos, which focuses on a few simple systems, to give a truly comprehensible introduction to the concepts that we hear so much about. At the end of each chapter is a large selection of interesting problems for the student, 744 in all, classified by topic and approximate difficulty, and ranging for simple exercises to challenging computer projects.

Laser Adventure

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:06:23 EST

This website provides a broad online introduction to lasers. The topics covered include basic optics and radiation, quantum energy levels, laser systems, gain, types of lasers, and laser applications. The online text also contains java applets to illustrate the physics and links related to lasers such as a list of books on lasers and laboratory experiments.

Scienceface.org

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:50:58 EST

This web site presents a series of fifteen 10-minute interviews with leading research scientists about black holes. The interviewer is a young person so that the discussions are at a high-school level. The scientists interviewed and to be interviewed include Kip Thorne and Clifford Will. The series of video clips are designed to cover black-hole science: what they are, how they are observed, current research, the impact of this research, and what Einstein thought of them. scienceface.org is an education project of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Potsdam, Germany, cooperating with Milde Marketing Science Communications. The videos are available free to download in a variety of formats and can be viewed on YouTube on the Scienceface channel.

Tomorrow's Professor Listserv

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:04:38 EST

The Tomorrow's Professor Mailing List is centered around preparing for academic careers in science and engineering. Its goal is to "foster a teaching and learning ecology" among its 25,000+ subscribers. Listserv topics of interest include: * Tomorrow's Academy * Tomorrow's Graduate Students and Postdocs * Tomorrow's Academic Careers * Tomorrow's Teaching and Learning * Tomorrow's Research A searchable database of the posts is available as well as links to related information and a Tomorrow's Professor Blog.

The Physics Question of the Week

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:01:58 EST

The question of the week web site hosts questions about physics related to experiments and demonstrations. The answer to each question is posted at the end of the week along with a short video showing the experiment and a link to a page with more information about a related demonstration.

The Physics Video Demonstration Database

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:11 EST

This web site contains a database of a wide range of short videos demonstrating physics concepts. The videos can be used during lecture by instructors, by students for coursework outside lecture, and for students to review demonstrations after class. The database can be browsed by topic or searched by keyword. Those with videos they may wish to contribute can contact the creator of the web site.

Concepts of Mass in Classical and Modern Physics

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:59:27 EST

This book discusses the history of the concept of mass and its properties. It guides you through the philosophy, conceptualization, and mathematics of one of the most fundamental concepts of science.

CPEP: Fundamental Particles and Interactions

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:58:19 EST

This chart shows the fundamental particles and their interactions. Included in the chart is information on the structure of the atom, baryons, mesons, fermions, and bosons. Additional sections are devoted to particle processes and unsolved mysteries.