Society of Physics Students (SPS) Quantum Racing Kart

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Physics Astronomy _at_ BGSU
Undergraduate Students Combine Fun and Academics
Society of Physics Students (SPS) Quantum Racing
Kart The SPS chapter formed Quantum Racing to
compete in the Inaugural Grand Prix of BGSU, run
on April 22, 2006. The race promotes teamwork,
technical and tactical skills, and energy
education through the use of E85 (85 ethanol)
fuel. The team used on-board computers to
monitor performance and measure speeds and
accelerations experienced during tests and
racing, then analyzed the information to improve
performance and better understand the physics of
motion. The team aims to provide outreach to
area high school physics classes through
presentations and demonstrations. And of course,
they invite you to cheer them on at the Second
Grand Prix of BGSU on April 14, 2007.
? Red and green laser beams shine on a thin film
(at center). When the red beam hits the film, it
changes the films transparency, switching off
the green beam.
Materials Science Undergraduates physics majors
do research in Dr. Ullrichs laser lab. The
labs femtosecond laser is capable of producing
extremely brief pulses, used to produce thin
films of semiconductor materials whose properties
can then be studied. One goal is to use these
thin films to optically switch beams of light
on and off, a technology that could form the
heart of a new generation of ultra-fast computers
and telecommunica-tions devices.
? The kart was built in the Physics Dept.
workshop by SPS students under the guidance of
Alex Hann. A specified engine, tires and fuel
are used to promote an even playing field. Teams
build their karts to established rules for safety
and performance.
Birth and death new stars form in the Orion
Nebula ? A supernova exploded in 1054 AD,
leaving the Crab Nebula in Taurus. ?
Astronomy Art and Research Undergraduates
minoring in Astronomy use BGSUs 20-inch
telescope and electronic camera to take digital
pictures of the night sky. Subjects range from
the art shots of gas clouds shown above, to
scientific images used to measure star brightness
and colors.
Team members Matt Hodek and Ryan Henderson
prepare the kart on race day. ?
The pulse of the labs femtosecond laser is
recorded by a digital analyzer. ?
? Driver Jen Bradley guides the kart around the
winding road course. ?
? Its combination of large size, quality
instruments, and on-campus location make BGSUs
observatory one of the best in Ohio for
undergraduate use.
? A pulse of intense laser light has vaporized a
target (lower right), providing a plume of
semiconductor material (blue glow) that will
condense as a thin coating on a glass slide
located at the upper-left.
? Comparison of measured and expected variables
yields insight into physics principles and
engineering practices, and helps to improve race
performance.
Undergraduate researchers watched the star AN
Serpentis as it changed brightness and color
over the year in 2003. ?