COSAM News Articles 2020 January Department of Physics Engages Students through Interactive Learning

Department of Physics Engages Students through Interactive Learning

Published: 01/28/2020

“To make my class more engaging, I gave students in Physics 6100, applications of quantum mechanics, an opportunity to present key experiments that lead to the discovery of quantum physics,” explained Dr. Dennis Bodewits, associate professor in the Department of Physics.

Michael Robbins showcased Millikan’s famous oil-drop experiment. He spoke about the goal that the physicist had to find the electric charge of the electron.

The student found the original paper in his research and gave insight regarding the large quantity of data in the experiment. He shared how this data directly impacted the accuracy of the measurement of the charge of the electron.

“Millikan had 1,000 to 2,000 values for velocity to calculate the charge of each drop,” Robbins told his classmates.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions from each presenter and provide additional perspectives.

“Making courses more interactive enhances the student experience at Auburn University and helps students learn through conducting their own research,” Dr. Bodewits added.