Physics and Astronomy Seminar Series: Senior Project Presentations
Friday, Nov. 18 | 3 p.m. | HA 325
The MSUM Physics and Astronomy Seminar Series Presents: Senior Project Presentations on Friday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. in Hagen 325.
Electromagnetic Coil Gun by James Diem
Abstract: Energy cannot be created or destroyed according to the conservation of energy. The purpose of this experiment is to measure the percent efficiency of a constructed electromagnetic coil gun. The amount of energy received from a ferromagnetic object serving as a projectile will be compared to the energy stored in a capacitor.
This was done by comparing the potential energy stored in a capacitor to the kinetic energy of a projectile being fried from the electromagnet. Inefficiency due to the design of the coil, eddy currents, the type of material the projectile it composed of, and a variation in the initial position of the ferromagnetic object all play a role in the muzzle velocity of the projectile. This affects the efficiency of the coil as an end result.
Modeling and Testing a Seismic Accelerator by Tyler Meehleib
Abstract: The goals of this project were to (1) use a computer model to predict the bounce height of the top ball on a Seismic Accelerator dropped at different heights and (2) to test the prediction for drop heights up to 0.3 m. If the trends from this experiment’s results continue, the model will produce statistically significant estimates of the bounce height for drops as high as 1.5 m.