Bi-frequency pendulum on a rotary platform: Modeling various optical phenomena

Boris Ya. Zeldovich, University of Central Florida, School of Optics

The teaching optical phenomena can be enhanced through the use of analogies to the motion of a bi-frequency pendulum. In this talk we target demonstrations to four groups of students and scientists: kindergarten students to high school seniors; high school freshmen to university seniors; university sophomores to 5th year graduate students of Physics, Optics and Engineering; 2nd year graduate students to research scientists. The main difference between the groups is in the level of mathematics required to make the analogy to optical phenomenon. Most of the physical ideas may be understood and appreciated even in middle school and serve as a motivation for deeper study of mathematics and science. Actual device will be placed in the hall before, during and after the talk, and demonstrations will be performed, to the entertainment of the speaker (B.Z.) and, possibly, of the audience.

The P/T Colloquium is
typically held each
Thursday, 3:45–5:00 PM.
Refreshments are served
at 3:15 PM.