Physics Students Go Ballistic
December 05, 2017
On November 15th, the high school physics students visited the physics department at Western Illinois University. Students conducted two experiments with the assistance of professors and graduate students. The experiments were indicative of college physics labs and used equipment unavailable at the high school level.
The first was the Standing Mechanical Wave Experiment.Students generated one to 10 standing waves using a variable frequency mechanical wave driver. Students observed the relationship between wavelength of string and the source frequency, string tension, and the mass per unit length of the string. From these relationships, they determined the velocity of the wave.
The second experiment was the Ballistic Pendulum. The purpose of the lab was to determine the velocity of the projectile using conservation of energy and momentum and kinematic concepts. Students first shot a projectile into a pendulum and calculated the energies and momentums involved. Next, the projectile was allowed to fall to the ground and the range and distance of fall were measured.
Launch the media gallery 2 playerEven though the students were apprehensive about performing experiments at this level prior to the visit, they were pleasantly surprised that they were able to conduct the experiments with little difficulty and understood the concepts for the most part.
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