Kent State Home Site Index Search Physics Site Leave FeedbackHigh School Outreach Program
Local high school science classes are invited to take part in our Physics Department Outreach Program.
We believe that campus visits by students can create a better understanding of the career opportunities a degree in Physics can achieve. Also, the students can get a taste of what it's like to do research, and of the academic atmosphere at Kent State University in general. Our goal is to increase enrollment, and we believe that exposure to our program will be both educational and informative. Explanations of different degree programs and job marketability of graduates with a B.S. in Physics are also part of the discussion.
IMAGE: Demonstration of levitation by superconducting magnets
There are several ways to format the visit, and high school teachers are encouraged to contact us to discuss the different programs that we offer. We usually begin the day with a Planetarium Show, which includes explanations of basic physics principles. The show is held at the KSU Planetarium, which is located in Smith Hall. We continue with a ``Fun with Physics'' demonstration given by faculty and graduate students. One highlight of this is the ``bed of nails'' demonstration (see middle image below).
Superconductivity IMAGE: A Kent State student lying on a bed of nails
Bed of nails
IMAGE: Animated model of an atomic nucleus
Nuclear Physics
Students will be able to purchase lunch at the Hub (Student Center) where they can mingle with the Kent students and get their first taste of ``college life''. After lunch, we continue with an hour tour of our research labs and students are able to discuss topics and question graduate students and faculty to see what it's really like to study physics. The day usually begins at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 2:00 P.M. We serve refreshments (donuts and juice) in the morning, either right at 8:30 A.M. or in the break between the Planetarium Show and the ``Fun with Physics'' demonstration.
Sample Schedule for Physics Visit
For high school freshman classes, we offer a shortened program without the lab tours. We like to keep the groups around 30 to 40 students. That way we can give the full tour and the students have time to ask questions.
9:00 - 9:30
9:30 - 10:15
10:15 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:15
12:15 - 1:30
Students Arrive - Introduction
Planetarium Show
Break
Fun with Physics
Lunch Break
Tours of Research Labs
We have lab tours that include light scattering, liquid crystal physics, superconductivity, hot nuclear matter, and theoretical physics. We will individualize this program to fit the level of students. The best times to schedule these programs are either Tuesday or Thursday mornings, as the Planetarium is available then.
Contact information:
Ms. Chris Kurtz
Department of Physics
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Phone: (330) 672-7009
E-mail: ckurtz@kent.edu
This page maintained by D. Mark Manley. Last updated on October 11, 2007.
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