arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Robert D. Polak.
We have created an experimental procedure for determining the temperature coefficient of resistivity, $α_R$, for introductory physics laboratories. This method examines the relationship between temperature and resistivity to establish $α_R$ within 10% of the accepted value.
Engaging with physical and material properties through empirical observation is a fundamental part of undergraduate physics and engineering education. Several works have proposed experiments to determine thermal physical constants of materials such as finding the coefficient of linear expansion. As Dajbych and Polak et al. have shown, methods for experimentally verifying physical constants can be done by measuring the frequency of a plucked high-carbon steel wire on a guitar. Building upon our previous work, we have extended our method to verify the coefficient of linear thermal expansion through an accessible procedure directed at introductory physics education.
Undergraduate research has become an essential mode of engaging and retaining students in physics. At Loyola University Chicago, first-year physics students have been participating in the Freshman Projects program for over twenty years, which has coincided with a period of significant growth for our department. In this paper, we describe how the Freshman Projects program has played an important role in advancing undergraduate research at Loyola, and the profound impact it has made on our program. We conclude with suggestions for adoption of similar programs at other institutions.