6 papers
Visualizing Mathieu-Type Dynamics in a Tabletop Magnetic Trap: A Coil-Driven Parametric Oscillator
William Ho, Anna Klales, Daniel Davis +4
We present a tabletop demonstration of dynamic stabilization and ponderomotive-like trapping using a pair of sinusoidally-driven anti-Helmholtz coils and a suspended permanent magn…
The Bat Signal
Keith Zengel, Anna Klales
We present a simple experiment that can be run in class or remotely with minimal materials. Students use the principles of geometric optics to create their own versions of the bat…
Demonstrating Dynamic Stability in Paul Traps: Exploring Rotating Saddles with Liquid Nitrogen Droplets
Laurel Barnett, Aidan Carey, Robert Hart +3
Rotating saddle potentials provide a compelling visual demonstration of dynamic stability, widely used in undergraduate physics as mechanical analogs to the RF Paul trap. Tradition…
Two-Stage Final Exams: An Assessment Strategy for Enhanced Collaborative Learning and Reduced Student Stress
Kristina Callaghan, Tim Milbourne, Anna Klales +4
Two-stage exams, which pair a traditional individual exam with a subsequent collaborative, group exam, have been shown to enhance learning, retention, and student attitudes in midt…
The asymmetric rotating saddle potential as a mechanical analog to the RF Paul trap
Aidan Carey, Laurel Barnett, Robert Hart +3
Under specific conditions, a rotating saddle potential can confine the motion of a particle on its surface. This time-varying hyperbolic potential shares key characteristics with t…
Active Learning Through Flexible Collaborative Exams: Improving STEM Assessments
Kristina Callaghan, Greg Kestin, Anna Klales +2
Two-stage exams, which pair a traditional individual exam with a subsequent collaborative exam, are widely popular with both students and faculty for fostering deep engagement, col…