SPS Minutes 3-13-02
Who:
Chris Curatolo, Meaghan Doyle, Lindsey Lavoie, Bill Bukala, Carolyn Berger, Pete Harris, Claudia Kulhanek,  Prof. Roach

What we did:
Announcements:  Congratulations to the following who have been accepted into programs or received job offers:
Carolyn Berger - physics grad school
Kendy Hall - physics grad school
Dave Ries - teaching job offers
Pete Harris - physics grad school
Kristi Miro - engineering grad school
Stephanie DeChiaro - comp. sci. grad school
Meaghan Doyle - law firm job in patents
Chris Curatolo - Nuclear Power school
Apologies to any others we may have overlooked!

Academic Conference Demos:
We are going to show off some physics at the Acad. Conf. Sunday April 21 from 1-3 in the Swords Atrium, during the poster session.
We discussed and tried out some of our favorite demos and voted to choose the best. Each person was allowed to vote for their 4 favorite demos. In spite of Prof. Roach's attempts to encourage the choice of two demos, the enthusiastic outpouring from the members resulted in the choice of FOUR favorites. The voting breakdown was: [red ones were approved]


soda-can.gif (2K)
gyro2.gif (1K) lightning2.jpg (1K)		 Unanimous: Ping Pong Ball Reverse Acceleration [mini-demo]
7 votes Soda Can Race [frozen vs warm]
6 votes Van de Graaf Generator [high voltage discharge, etc]
6 votes Bike Wheel Gyroscope [with rotating chair]
 3 votes Coin & Feather under Vacuum
2 votes Chaos Pendulum
2 votes Center of Gravity [pick up something with hips against wall]
1 vote Egg Throw [throw eggs against a sheet and they won't break]
We will need VOLUNTEERS to help show these to people on Sunday April 21!!

Roosevelt Elementary School project:
Carolyn led a discussion about this. It was decided to take some activities from one of the books that Prof. Roach has [eg, Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down] and do them with the kids. Possible date: on a Thursday morning after the Acad. Conf.
Prof. Roach will contact the school to try to set a date.