APPLICATION for: Instructional Improvement

for General Physics II, Honors - PHYS 204

ABSTRACT:

The project plans to enhance the learning outcome in General Physics II - Honors (PHYS

204) by including new practical applications and hands-on projects in the instruction.

The subjects covered in this class (electro-magnetism, optics, atomic physics) are perfectly

suited for powerful and memorable applications. Once the students realize the importance

of theoretical concepts in understanding, designing, or troubleshooting a device, they are

much more motivated to put in the needed effort during the lecture. The ability of the

students to make the transition from concepts to applications and to appreciate their

intimate connection should be strengthened as much as possible during their school years,

before they join the workforce.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Practical applications in three forms are proposed for enhancing instruction in General

Physics II - Honors: (i) demos performed by the instructor, (ii) short quiz-like challenges,

and (iii) larger projects and challenges. Examples from the three types (described in more

detail in the budget section) are, respectively, (i) contrasting the geometries of electric

and magnetic fields and grasping what enormous implications their differences tell us, or

action at a distance and electrostatic sensors, (ii) Ohm’s law, DC, and AC applications

with resistors, capacitors, inductors, and (iii) magnetic-levitation in transportation and

black-box challenge. In a black-box challenge students are free to subject the box to any

tests and measurements outside class to discover what is inside. The box is sealed and the

circuitry, possibly as simple as a band-pass filter, is known only to the instructor.

STATEMENT of NEED

Having witnessed so many times the sudden realization, inspiration, or insight students

get when shown a practical application of a newly introduced idea, I am a strong advo-

cate of introducing more hands-on demos and class projects in our General Physics II -

Honors course. This class is considered, based on student reviews, harder than all other

general physics classes due to, in general, its less-familiar subjects of electro-magnetism,

optics, and atomic physics. Simply not having experimented with it is childhood (under-

standing mechanics, waves, and thermodynamics have that advantage) makes a substantial

difference. When a newly introduced phenomena, law, principle are followed by a visual

representation or a practical application that uses it, comprehension and retention increase

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significantly. In this course we have a clear opportunity to offer students a much better

grasp of the subjects they are learning (often for the first time in their school career) not

only by including new demos in the lectures but also by helping them grasp the concepts

with hands-on projects.

PLAN and TIMETABLE

The equipment will be purchased after October 10th. All tests will be performed before

the Spring 2014 semester, time when the equipment will be put to use in the classroom.

BUDGET and BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

Sargent Welch equipment

• Electric Field Apparatus

It is very common for students to have seen demonstrations of magnetic field lines

with iron filings, but possibly never imaged the field lines of electric fields. Comparing

the two very different patterns leads not only to a lasting memory but also to a

fundamental understanding of Maxwell’s Laws and of the meaning monopole and

dipole as sources.

$30.90

• Magnetic Levitation Train Kit

This kit is developed through a partnership between the Department of Energy and

Brookhaven National Laboratory. It guides students through the construction of a

magnetic levitation train using their understanding of magnetism and mechanics.

The kit is aligned with National Standards.

$142.00

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• Spin-Type Electroscope equipment

Proves the action-at-a-distance fundamental characteristic of the electric field.

$20.50

3D Scientific

• Electric Motor and Generator

This table-top model demonstrated how an DC and AC motor/generator works, an

ubiquitous application of electro-magnetic conversion, ultimately an application of

Maxwell’s Laws.

$358.00

Radio Shack equipment

• Project Boxes, Connectors, and Components

Needed for the black-box challenge.

project box: $4.99

BNC and banana connectors and R, L, C components: $100

Item Unit price ($) Number needed Total ($)

electric field apparatus 30.90 1 30.90

magnetic levitation train kit 142.00 2 284.00

spin-type electroscope 20.50 1 20.50

electric motor and generator 358.00 1 358.00

project boxes 4.99 10 49.90

connectors and components 100.00 1 100.00

GRAND TOTAL 843.30

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Gabriela Petculescu Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION: • 09/1996-06/2002 PhD in Physics Ohio University, USA Physical acoustics. GPA: 3.93 Thesis: "Fundamental measurements in standing-wave and traveling-wave thermoacoustics" • 09/1994-06/1995 Graduate studies in Physics (MS equivalent) University of Bucharest, Romania Vacuum and plasma physics. GPA: 4.00 Thesis: "Miniature vacuum pump based on the thermionic vacuum arc in Titanium" • 09/1989-06/1994 Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics University of Bucharest, Romania Optical technologies with plasma and lasers. GPA: 3.92 Thesis: "A new kind of plasma discharge: the thermionic vacuum arc" EMPLOYMENT: • 08/2006 – present Assistant Professor (2006-2012) / Associate Professor (2012-present) University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA, USA • 07/2004 – 08/2006 Postdoctoral Fellow Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA • 05/2002 – 06/2004 Postdoctoral Research Associate National Center for Physical Acoustics, University, MS, USA • 09/1996 – 05/2002 Graduate Research Assistant Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA • 09/1994 – 03/1996 Research Scientist Institute of Physics and Technology of Radiation Devices, Bucharest, Romania

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Department of Physics, Broussard 208A Lafayette, LA 70504

tel: (337) 482 6698 fax: (337) 482 6699 email: gp@louisiana.edu

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Book chapters:

“Magnetoelasticity of bcc Fe-Ga Alloys”, by G. Petculescu, R. Q. Wu and R. McQueeny, in Handbook of Magnetic Materials, Vol. 20 edited by K. H. J. Buschow, North Holland, 2012, pp.123-226. Publications in refereed journals:

J.B Restorff, M. Wun-Fogle, K.B. Hathaway, A.E. Clark, T. A. Lograsso, and G. Petculescu, “Tetragonal Magnetostriction and Magnetoelastic Coupling in Fe-Al, Fe-Ga, Fe-Ge, Fe-Si, Fe-Ga-Al, and Fe-Ga-Ge Alloys,” J. Appl. Phys. 111, 023905 (2012) G. Petculescu, P. K. Lambert, A. E. Clark, K. B. Hathaway, Q. Xing, T. A. Lograsso, J. B. Restorff, and M. Wun-Fogle, “Temperature dependence of magnetoelastic properties of Fe100-

xSix (5<x<20),” J. Appl. Phys. 111, 07A921 (2012) G. Petculescu, K. L. Ledet, M. Huang, T. A. Lograsso, Y. N. Zhang, R. Q. Wu, M. Wun-Fogle, J. B. Restorff, A. E. Clark, and K. B. Hathaway, “Magnetostriction, elasticity, and D03 phase stability in Fe-Ga and Fe-Ga-Ge alloys,” J. Appl. Phys. 109, 07A904 (2011) G. Petculescu, A. O. Mandru, W. Yuhasz, T. Lograsso, M. Wun-Fogle, J. B. Restorff, A. E. Clark, K. Hathaway, "The effect of partial substitution of Ge for Ga on the elastic and magnetoelastic properties of Fe-Ga alloys," J. Appl. Phys. 107, 09A926 (2010) M. Huang, A. O. Mandru, G. Petculescu, A. E. Clark, M. Wun-Fogle and T. A. Lograsso, “Magnetostrictive and elastic properties of Fe100-xMox (2 < x < 12) single crystals,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 09A920 (2010) G. Petculescu, J. B. LeBlanc, M. Wun-Fogle, J. B. Restorff, W. C. Burton, J. X. Cao, R. Q. Wu, W. M. Yuhasz, T. A. Lograsso, A. E. Clark, “Magnetoelasticity of Fe100-xGex (5<x<18) single crystals from 81 K to 300 K,” IEEE Trans. Magn. 45, 4149 (2009) G. Petculescu, J. B. LeBlanc, M. Wun-Fogle, J. Restorff, D. Wu, T. Lograsso, A. Clark, “Magnetoelastic coupling in Fe100-xGex single crystals with 4<x<18," J. Appl. Phys. 105, 07A932 (2009) A. E. Clark, J.-H. Yoo, J. R. Cullen, M. Wun-Fogle, G. Petculescu, and A. Flatau, "Stress Dependent Magnetostriction in Highly Magnetostrictive Fe100-xGax, 20<x<30," J. Appl. Phys. 105, 07A913 (2009) G. Petculescu, S. Krishnaswamy, and J. D. Achenbach, “Group delay measurements using modally selective Lamb wave transducers for detection and sizing of delaminations in composites,” Smart Mater. Struct. 17, 015007 (2008) G. Petculescu and J. D. Achenbach, “Schedule Based NDT and Structural Health Monitoring of safety Critical Composite Structures,” Materials Evaluation 65, 731 (2007) - invited G. Petculescu, K. B. Hathaway, T. A. Lograsso, M. Wun-Fogle, A. E. Clark, “Magnetic field dependence of Galfenol elastic properties,” J. Appl. Phys. 97, 10M315 (2005)

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PUBLICATIONS in conference proceedings: H. M. Schurter, A. B. Flatau, G. Petculescu, M. Wun-Fogle, “Auxetic behavior, elastic properties, and the effects of heat treatment on Galfenol,” Proceedings of the ASME Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems SMASIS (2008) G. R. Kirikera, G. Petculescu, S. Krishnaswamy, J. D. Achenbach, “Mode selective actuation and reception of Lamb waves for structural health monitoring of woven composite laminates,” Proceedings of SPIE vol 6532, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems, Tribikram Kundu, Ed. (2007) Y. Zhou, G. Petculescu, I.M. Komsky, and Sridhar Krishnaswamy, “High resolution ultrasonic imaging system with laser-based generation,” Proceedings of SPIE vol 6177, Health Monitoring and Smart Nondestructive Evaluation of Structural and Biological Systems IV, Tribikram Kundu; Ed. (2006) G. Petculescu, Y. Zhou, I. Komsky, and S. Krishnaswamy, “Laser-generated ultrasonic source for a real-time dry-contact imaging system,” Rev. Quant. Nondestr. Eval., vol. 25, ed. D. O. Thompson and D. E. Chimenti AIP Conf. Proc. 820, 256 (2006) G. Petculescu, S. Krishnaswamy, and J. D. Achenbach “Selective excitation of Lamb-waves for damage detection in composites,” Rev. Quant. Nondestr. Eval., vol. 25, ed. D. O. Thompson and D. E. Chimenti AIP Conf. Proc. 820, 979 (2006) SELECTED PRESENTATIONS:

“Elastic Interactions in Ferromagnetic Fe-based Alloys,” University of New Orleans, Physics Department Seminar, Feb 2012 “Temperature dependence of magnetoelastic properties of Fe100-xSix (5<x<20),” 56th MMM Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, Oct 2011 "Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy and its role in understanding magnetoelasticity in Fe-based alloys," George Mason University, Physics Department Seminar, Jan 2010 “Magnetostrictive and elastic properties of Fe100-xMox (2 < x < 12) single crystals,” 11th Joint MMM–Intermag Conference, Washington, DC, Jan 2010 “The effect of partial substitution of Ga with Ge on the elastic and magnetoelastic properties of GALFENOL,” 158th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, San Antonio TX, Oct 2009 “Magnetoelasticity of Fe100-xGex (5 < x < 18) single crystals from 81 K to 300 K,” IEEE International Magnetics Conference, Sacremento CA, May 2009 “Magnetoelastic coupling in Fe100-xGex single crystals with 4<x<18," 53rd Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Conference, Austin TX, Nov 2008 “Large elastic softening in highly magnetostrictive Fe-based alloys,” 156th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Miami, Nov 2008

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“Ultrasonic probes for the solid matter,” Naval Surface Warfare Center, West Bethesda MD, August 2008 “Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy and its applications,” Northwestern University, Physics Department Theory group, Jan 2005 COURSES TAUGHT (S/F=spring/fall semester): - Conceptual Physics, S, F, 2010-to-2012, Univ. of Louisiana - Introduction to Physics I, F, 2007, 2009, Univ. of Louisiana - Introduction to Physics II, F, 2006, Univ. of Louisiana - General Physics I, F, 2003, Univ. of Mississippi - General Physics I, S, 2008, 2009 Univ. of Louisiana - General Physics II, S, 2012, 2013 Univ. of Louisiana - Modern Physics Laboratory, S, F, 2006-to-2013 Univ. of Louisiana - Modern Physics, F, 2010-to-2013 Univ. of Louisiana - Physical Acoustics in the Solid State, F, 2008, 2012 Univ. of Louisiana AWARDS: Office of Naval Research Summer Faculty Research Fellow, at Naval Surface Warfare Center, West Bethesda MD: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Fellowship of the Condensed Matter and Surface Science Program of Ohio University, providing full support for the summer of 2001 Student Scholarship from the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven to attend the First International Workshop on Thermoacoustics, April 2001 John Cady Graduate Fellowship awarded to one Ohio University student per year, providing full support for the academic year 2000-2001 AFFILIATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE: The Acoustical Society of America The American Physical Society Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Reviewer for: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics Journal of Applied Physics Journal of Alloys and Compounds Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Wave Motion Europhysics Letters, Journal of Materials Science Nature National Science Foundation