As a more student-friendly approach, decoupling the differential equations typically found in central force problems allows for a simpler, more efficient solution to the orbits of the Kepler problem by removing the need for complex integral analysis. As an additional bonus, the quantization of radial variables uncovers a deeper connection between the Keplerian orbits and quantum mechanical Hamiltonians of hydrogen states, perfect for junior and senior undergraduate physics students. The original idea for this comes from the 1930 textbook Elementare Quantenmechanik by Born and Jordan.

Many of the concepts of advanced undergraduate physics courses are abstract and may be difficult for students to visualize. This talk describes the design and initial testing of a suite of interactive online applets aimed at providing understanding of such concepts for students in courses such as junior level mechanics, electromagnetism, and vibration and waves courses. Examples include Lagrangian formulation, principle axes of rotation, nonlinear oscillators, multipole expansion, dipole radiation, Fourier synthesis, drumhead vibration, evanescent waves, and dispersive waves. Each applet includes instructions to the student, example homework problems, and a detailed summary of the physics involved. These applets have been used in courses over the past four years. Data from student interviews and surveys will be presented on the self-reported benefits and disadvantages of using these applets.  

In general, the undergraduate physics major incorporates a variety of curricular structures. At the course level, the textbook and course learning objectives are the primary structures that help define the content of the teaching/learning environment. But at the level of the physics major, the most common curricular structure is a catalog of courses. The presentation deconstructs a sample physics major to examine the various curricular structures in order to better discuss the assumptions, expectations and development within the physics major.

The Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) initiative (EP3guide.org) is a collaborative effort between APS and AAPT designed to support physics departments in improving all aspects of their programs through continued self-reflection. One focus area identified early on for EP3 was providing guidance on teaching practices. Several of the most recently published sections include strategies for how instructional staff can apply research-based teaching and how departments can create cultural structures to support instructional staff in both in-person and online modalities. Additionally, several sections of the guide offer suggestions for how to incorporate research-based teaching in specific types of physics courses, such as introductory and upper-level courses. We will share a brief overview of the EP3 guide, including how the Guide’s content will be updated and improved, and how participants can apply the EP3 Guide in their local contexts.

As a quantum mechanical tool with many direct classical analogs, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can provide a valuable entryway to quantum technology and research. This talk introduces a set of research-based active-learning modules developed as part of an NSF-IUSE grant to make the quantum realm more accessible to students by integrating NMR earlier in the undergraduate science curriculum. These modular labs were designed to cover the theory and applications of NMR with flexibility for use in a variety of different courses, classroom environments, and institutions. The developed materials take advantage of the growing capabilities of lower-cost benchtop NMR spectrometers and are also designed to be accessible to faculty and students who do not have direct access to a benchtop NMR spectrometer. This talk will provide an overview of how we have implemented these modules into our undergraduate science curriculum and the positive results in students’ confidence, science identity, and expert-like mindsets. We suggest this work may provide a wider and earlier entryway for students to learn about quantum technologies and expand the future quantum workforce.