Spring Meeting at SFA March 3-5, 2005

Spring Meeting

March 3-5, 2005: Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, will host the Spring 2005 Joint Meeting of the Texas Sections of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), the American Physical Society (APS), and Zone 13 of the Society of Physics Students (SPS).

Call for Papers: http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/springmeeting/cfp.html

Meeting Home Page: http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/springmeeting.html

APS Abstract Submission Deadline: February 4, 2005
AAPT and SPS Paper and Poster Submission Deadline: February 11, 2005
Pre-registration Deadline: February 20, 2005

2. We also need nominations for vice-president and 2-year representative of TSAAPT. Please send their name and school affiliation to David Donnelly at donnelly@txstate.edu.

Albert Einstein Action Figure

Spacecraft lands on Saturn's moon Titan Today!!!
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

2005 "World Year of Physics"
http://www.physics2005.org/

Alpher-Bethe-Gamow and the Alpha-Beta-Gamma paper
http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/study/sci/cosmo/internal/bigbang.htm
http://www2.gwu.edu/~physics/gwmageh.htm

Center for Science, Mathematics, & Computer Education
http://scimath.unl.edu/exp/exp.html

Mars orbiter photographs rovers, tracks from space
http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1359_1.asp

The Darpa Challenge
http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge04/index.htm

Space probes feel cosmic tug of bizarre forces
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/sciences/story/0,12243,1302857,00.html

Modeling Workshops in high school physics and/or physical science
http://modeling.asu.edu

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Physics, engineering, and mathematics have been shown to greatly reduce your social life.

Today, NASA successfully launched the Deep Impact mission, which will fire a projectile into the heart of a comet in July.
http://deepimpact.umd.edu/

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa is en route to an asteroid, where it will fire a projection to blast asteroid chunks from the surface, and then collect these to return to Earth.
http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/sat/exploration/muses_c/index_e.html

Comet Machholz is not particularly bright, but beautiful through a telescope. See the photo at...
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050105.html
http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1396_1.asp

SOME POINTERS ON THE USE OF LASER POINTERS
Many stargazers use handheld laser pointers to show the way to stars and constellations. But these devices can be dangerous if used carelessly. Here are some tips on how to avoid trouble.
http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/article_1429_1.asp

Man charged under Patriot Act for laser prank
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6775100/

Saturn, all night long
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/12jan_saturn.htm?list1065276

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/home/education/surf/index.html

NASA World Wind Software
http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/worldwind/

Alpher-Bethe-Gamow and the Alpha-Beta-Gamma paper
http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/study/sci/cosmo/internal/bigbang.htm

SURREAL SATURN PORTRAIT
http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1395_1.asp

Yeti Sports
http://www.yetisports.org/y/en/online.html#

Link to 26 Megabyte Mars Rover Image of Endurance Crater
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040615a.html

Virtual science comes alive
http://whyfiles.org/interactives/index.html

Why Women Live Longer Than Men - PowerPoint - Funny and True
http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/courses/ast105/lectures105/99-Interesting/whywomenlivelongerthanmen2.pps

10 most dangerous intersections & photos
http://www.statefarm.com/di/danlist00.htm

The Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy expects to host a "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" program sponsored by the National Science Foundation in the summer of 2005.
http://astro.fit.edu/sara-reu/reu_appl_submit.html
http://www.astro.fit.edu/sara-reu/

Fogbows, Halos, and other Cool Atmospheric Phenomena
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/droplets/fogbow.htm

NASA's Scramjet, the X-43A Prepares for Flight
http://space.com/missionlaunches/x43a_update_041115.html

NASA scientists are using space satellites to unravel one of the great mysteries of the ancient world.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/15nov_maya.htm?list1065276

Applying a small current across the forehead can increase word recall by 20 percent! See also How Your Brain Works.
http://wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,65620,00.html

Awesome Physics Study Guides and Solved Problems
http://www.sparknotes.com/physics/

ACTIVITY BASED PHYSICS FACULTY INSTITUTES
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sokoloff/abpi.htm

AIP Career Services
http://www.aip.org/careersvc/

Physics Question of the Week
http://www.physics.umd.edu/lecdem/outreach/QOTW/active/questions.htm

Physical Science Resource Center (PSRC)
http://psrc.aapt.org

AAPT Teaching Resources
http://www.aapt.org/Resources/

What's new at APS?
http://www.aps.org/WN/

Here is an amazing optical illusion you may be able to use in your class. If you stare at this image for a while you can see a giraffe. Don't give up. It sometimes takes as long as 20 seconds.

Organization Links

Thanks to the TSAAPT officers and others for the links and information above. Feel free to send any interesting links that you find. This email message is sent to Texas physics teachers, students, and friends of TSAAPT. If you would like to be removed from the emailing list or are getting multiple copies of these newsletters, then feel free to reply to this message with your request.