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PROJECTS & PREVIOUS MOVIE
NIGHTS
Here
are the projects the Physics Club has worked on over the past few years. We
are interested in applying scientific principles to projects that are fun and
interesting. Any persons who would like to contribute or have ideas please
get in touch. The member with a star “*” next to their name is
the project leader.
Beowulf Cluster – Moderate
Progress
Members:
Shane*, Kyle, Jacob
- We
have assembled up to 5 computer towers and have obtained a really big cable
splitter to help with connections between them.
Arcade Machine - 2008-2029 –
Getting there…
Members: M’hammad, Shane, Jacob
- We will have a computer
with lots of old arcade games and some new ones.
- We will put together a large arcade-esque game housing with fully
functional
joystick and push buttons.
High Voltage Power
Supply –
EM Levitator –
Smashed… But planning on having it rebuilt
Members: Philip, Heidi
- Our levitator got smashed by a dropped computer monitor. Who
dropped it has the right to be anonymous.
Rail Gun –
Doing Great
Members: Philip, Chad, Jacob B., Nels, Daniel
- Progress is good. We have
created a semi-efficient toy-sized model of the rail gun. However we’ll
need to buy some new magnets and a 9 volt battery.
- The armature is moving, but is
having issues with contact with the rails. They need to be cleaned somehow.
- We are working on a box model
that will use stronger magnets and a better contact surface.
Trebuchet – In
storage. Will be retrieved in the spring of 2010.
Members: Phil, Heidi, Tolan, Keith, Amelia, Jacob
- We beat the engineers at their own
competition in the spring of 2009.
- We are still planning on revamping
our siege engine for this coming spring!
- See the picture below and our photo
section for some cool pics!
Ferro Fluid –
Progress Unknown
Members: Justin, Jacob B., Chad, Philip, Hank
Movie nights - a list of movies we have watched in the past:
Pre-2008
- IQ
- Primer
- Contact
- Gattaca
- Spaceballs
- Transformers
- Young Einstein
- V for Vendetta
- Kung Fu Hustle
- Dr. Strangelove
- Boondock Saints
- The Fifth Element
- Hitchhiker's Guide
- Cannibal the Musical
- Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
2008
-MST3K, Robot Monster
-Parts 1 and 2 of Elegant
Universe
-Donnie Darko
-Waking Life
-Andromeda Strain (1971)
2009
- Journey to the Edge of the
Universe
- Airplane!
- ???
Every year
The Physics Club is actively involved in hosting the K-State Open House. We
represent the Physics Department by explaining demonstrations that are setup
for the event and answering the public's questions about Physics at K-State.
Four years ago we hosted a Trebuchet Competition and gave physics
demonstrations.
Trebuchet Competition
- 2009
Trebuchet Competition -
2005
Zack,
Aaron, Asma, Jason, and Cole posing with the trebuchet affectionately named,
"The Trebunator".
During the 2005 K-State Open House, the Physics Club and the K-State chapter
of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers faced-off in the University's
first trebuchet contest. Trebuchets are medieval weapons similar to catapults
which launch projectiles great distances. Each team designed and built their
own trebuchet and the contest had two awards, one for distance and one for
accuracy.
Due to our ability to launch water balloon projectiles to the same area
consistently, Physics Club was crowned victor for accuracy. For their ability
to launch projectiles an impressive distance, the ASME won in the area of
distance.
When all was said and done, the competition was a draw and an awesome time
for everyone. Congratulations to the ASME's, thank you to the Physics
Department faculty and staff for your support, and great job to the Physics
Club building team!
TREBUCHET VIDEO!! See The Trebunator in action!
Open house pictures (coming sometime)
K-State
Collegian article about the competition 4/08/05
Trebuchet
construction webpage
Community Outreach
In the
future we hope to bring physics demonstrations to grade schools in the
Manhattan area. Basic principles of electric fields can be taught with a Van
DeGraff generator while the physics of aerodynamics are demonstrated by our
mascot, Boson the Clown.
Time Machine
 Well, isn't this
every physicists other hobby? Sadly, the Physics Department is
hesitant about helping fund several kilograms of plutonium and a Delorean, so
not much progress has been made on this project yet.
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