By Veeshan Narinesingh, STEM Program Co-Leader
Ethan Bendau’s laser apparatus made quite an impression on Michael Alameda, center, and Triniim Jones, left.
Last Friday, I took two of our most exceptional young scientists, Triniim Jones and Michael Alameda, on a visit to the City College Physics Department for some hands-on learning in optics.
This trip was part of their preparation for our upcoming Water Fair. With some help from The City College Physics Club, our H2O Optics Group has been studying the fundamental properties of light, and how light can be used to determine water quality.
When we arrived, we were greeted by Ethan Bendau, an undergraduate physics student and journeyman optical scientist. Then we met with Professor James Hedberg and Professor Sebastian Franco, advisors to the Physics Club. Professor Hedberg offered some words of wisdom. When I pointed out that I was learning from him just as our young men are learning from me, he interrupted me to say that he had also learned from me, just as all teachers learn from their students. It really drove home the point that education, at its best, is a two-way street.
Next we visited the Institute For Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers, headed by Distinguished Professor Robert Alfano. Ethan is a member of Alfano’s group, and he showed the students his experimental laser apparatus. For his work, Ethan is observing laser pulses. After some questions, the students headed to the Undergraduate Physics Lab, where Ethan led Triniim and Michael through a hands-on lesson on waves and optics.
They started off by oscillating a long spring, noting the properties of the resulting standing wave. Ethan then explained that, just as the spring exhibits the characteristics of a wave as it oscillates, electromagnetic fields of light exhibit the characteristics of waves as they travel through space. Then they learned about the Planck-Einstein Relation, which relates the color or frequency of light to the energy stored in its fields. Doing a little bit of algebra, the students derived an equation for energy in terms of wavelength before observing various optical phenomena firsthand.
Our students then got their first real taste of college as they tackled a City College Physics 208 Lab: Reflection, Refraction and Dispersion. Studying some of the fundamental physics of optics, the students confirmed the law of reflection and bent light through different media. In one experiment, Michael found the focal length of a concave, spherical mirror.
Through these sorts of experiences, our STEM program aims to prepare our student-athletes for success. Friends and volunteers like Ethan and the rest of the City College physics crew will continue to play an important role as we charge through barriers.
Over the next few months, we will be heading to City College more often. Each adventure will fortify our students’ understanding of the physical reality they live in and expand our ever-growing family of teachers.
Triniim and Michael worked on an equation with Ethan.
Michael studied the law of reflection using a plane mirror.
Michael inspected a transparent lens before using it to study the bending of light.