This file includes the lab manual write-up for the Au nanosphere and nanorod photoabsorption and scattering Lab experiment for the 2nd year Experimental Contemporary Physics Lab Course. In addition, several handouts are provided along with some additional information for instructors. This work was supported in part by by NSF Awards: ECCS #0701703, DMR #0707740 & DMR #1105121. The experiment can readily be upgraded to an advanced lab by giving more responsibility to the students for lab setup (give them an optical breadboard and parts) and by asking for more in-depth analysis and questions which require more knowledge and experimental skills to answer.

The 3-D Hydrogen Atom Probability Densitites model simulates the probability density of the first few (n = 1, 2, and 3, and associated l and m values) energy eigenstates for the Hydrogen atom (the Coulomb potential). The main window shows the energy level diagram for the solutions to the Coulomb potential in three dimensions. States may be selected either by using the dropdown menu item or by using the energy level diagram and clicking a dark green level, with specific n, l, and m values) which will turn bright green and change the state shown in the 3d visualization window. The probability is shown with a 3d cloud, with higher probability shown as a darker sphere. The simulation uses either simple 3D or Java 3D (if installed) to render the view the probability densities. If Java 3D is not installed, the simulation defaults to simple 3D using Java. The 3-D Hydrogen Atom Probability Densitites model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_qm_hydrogen3d.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

When a pair of scientists first introduced cold nuclear fusion in 1989 as a source of almost limitless energy, the scientific community quickly discredited the experiments. In some venues, these experiments are case studies in faulty scientific investigation. But now a respected scientist at SRI International is doing extensive research on the same process -- with promising results. This 12-minute investigative report by CBS 60 Minutes explores the renewed interest in cold fusion and its implications for society. This resource is available for free online viewing. A four-page text synopsis is also provided. It could be especially useful as a springboard for a lesson on the importance of objectivity in scientific experimentation.

This tutorial explains some of the techniques developed by astronomers to determine the distances of objects we see in the sky. Links to additional information are embedded in the text.

This site presents graphic plots of solar wind and magnetic field data from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft.

The COSEE network promotes a better understanding of the key role the ocean plays in global environmental cycles and processes. COSEE activities highlight the contributions ocean-science researchers make to scientific knowledge in these important areas. Each COSEE represents one or more ocean science research institution, an informal science education organization, and at least one affiliate organization representing the formal education community.

Acid-Base titration applet that plots pH changes as student adds acid or base. Gives choice of indicators (only two right now). Compares plots for titration of traditional solution and a buffered solution (several choices for comparison). Can alter starting concentrations.

The Acid Strong Base Titrations model show how to estimate the concentration of the acid in a given sample. If one follows the titration by a visual indicator, the neutralization is detected through a sudden change of that indicator color. This model shows the titration curve as a strong monofunctional base (sodium hydroxide, for example), is added to an aqueous solution of a monoprotic acid. The Acid Strong Base Titrations model was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the jar file will run the program if Java is installed. You can modify this simulation if you have EJS installed by right-clicking within the map and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

This module provides an intrioduction to acid and base chemistry. The Arrhenius and Bronsted-Lowry concepts of acids and bases are discussed as well as the pH scale and neutralization reactions.

About 150 common acronyms in organic chemistry are listed along with their full names and structures.

The Adaptive Use Bridge Project website is a repository for work being conducted at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in which historic iron bridges are rehabilitated, documented, and analyzed. The purpose of the project is to preserve the civil engineering heritage of New England and to develop instructional material for use in undergraduate civil engineering curricula. Upon completion of this long-term project, a protocol for adaptive pedestrian use of historic bridges will be created.

This case study considers the problems that would arise if one were to cross over into a mirror-image environment. The case looks into the lock-and-key theory of enzyme action. This material would be most useful in biology, organic chemistry or biochemistry courses. The case study and teaching notes may be downloaded in PDF format. The site also includes a section for instructor feedback where general comments may be read and contributed.

Using exposition, graphics, and commercial videos, this module teaches the theory and application of affinity chromatography in the characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biochemical/biomedical systems. Problems and application examples support the tutorial material.

The goal of this course is to introduce participants to the basic concepts of meteorology and air quality necessary to understand meteorological computer models. This course, along with companion courses in Computational Atmospheric Science and Emissions, anticipates the Models3 environment under development by the EPA. Upon completion of the course, participants should understand the fundamental principles of meteorology. In addition, participants will be introduced to the application of these principles to air quality, especially through atmospheric modeling. Moreover, during the course a number of issues involved in simulating atmospheric processes in a computer-based model will be presented.

The lithograph contains a Hubble Space Telescope image that shows M82, an edge-on galaxy, undergoing a frenzy of star formation. The text explains the possible causes of the galaxy’s unusual appearance and star-birth activity. The accompanying classroom activity is a curriculum support tool designed for use as an introductory inquiry activity. It can be incorporated into a unit that has a scientific inquiry and/or a galaxy evolution theme. During the classroom activity, In Search of … Starburst Galaxies, students use the lithograph images and text to generate questions about the cause of the starburst, a rapid rate of star formation, in M82. They also conduct research to answer their questions. Students then identify the galaxy they think is responsible for igniting the star formation in M82, and must provide evidence to support their choice.

This lithograph contains a Hubble Space Telescope image that shows the colorful Planetary Nebula NGC 2440 with one of the hottest known white dwarfs at its center. The text briefly explains the process of stellar death of sun-like stars and those with a mass greater than eight times the Sun. The accompanying classroom activity is a curriculum support tool designed for use as an introductory inquiry activity. It can be incorporated into a unit that has a scientific inquiry and/or stellar evolution theme. During the classroom activity, In Search of... Stellar Death, students use the lithograph images and text to generate questions about the planetary nebula NGC 2440 and how stars end their lives. Students conduct research to answer their questions then compare the endpoints of different mass stars, providing supporting evidence from their research.

Through educational products and research, publications and outreach programs, the AHA seeks to promote understanding of hydrogen technology and to help create a market for pollution-free hydrogen energy. Though not updated regularly does provide links to some interesting projects using hydrogen technology.

A list of mathematics journals with articles on the Web and a list of Web sites for printed journals, with tables of contents of issues, abstracts of papers, actual papers, information about submissions and subscriptions, etc. See also the Annual Listing of New Journals in Mathematics file, which notes newly established journals devoted to papers in mathematics, organized by year.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) describes its endeavors to improve drinking water quality and supply throughout the world. Visitors can find fact sheets on water pollutants, scientific and public articles, and information on conferences. The educational materials include scholarship opportunities, information about the Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, and a seminar schedule. Researchers can find out about the numerous AWWA's development of products and processes to improve public water quality.

The Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) provides this document, which was part of a workshop held on anaerobic digestion for mitigation of biodiesel production byproducts. It would be useful for instructors looking to develop their own curriculum on biofuels and biodiesel byproducts. Users must download this resource for viewing, which requires a free log-in. There is no cost to download the item.

This labware module contains directions for seven experiments in analytical electrochemistry. The experiments are designed to illustrate fundamentals of electrode reactions as applied to readily accessible redox reactants. They provide insight to dynamic electrochemistry for scientists at all levels of training. Activation procedures to prepare glassy carbon electrodes are provided in a TechNote.

This module focuses on the basic concepts involved in dynamic electrochemistry when the net current is not zero - the combination of mass transfer and electrochemical reactions at the interface between solids and fluids. It is at an introductory level appropriate for undergraduates in their sophomore or junior years.

This courseware module is structured for either a lecture presentation or self-study tutorial on analytical potentiometry. The level of presentation spans upper high school to college students. Topics include historical background, theory/principles, instrumentation, pH electrodes, experimental examples, and troubleshooting tips.

The Analytical Sciences Digital Library (ASDL) provides a collection of peer-reviewed web-based educational resources related to technical resources in the analytical sciences. Materials include articles, labware, educational practices, and more.

Students use NaI/PMT detectors to measure the angular correlation of simultaneously emitted gammas from Na-22 and Co-60.

This series of eight interactive modules was developed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute to give undergraduate computer science students a unique online resource for introductory course material. "Each module consists of a set of lessons and review questions with embedded interactive components." Topics include non-decimal number systems and arithmetic, operating systems, programming languages, and software engineering, to name a few. There is even a module that breaks down the fundamental hardware components of a computer's architecture. The animations are of high quality and demonstrate various concepts quite well.

NASA argues that new observations may upset theories about how solar explosions create and destroy antimatter. Users can view the many colorful animations and short movies obtained from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI).

This site offers Java-based applets as organized in 4 categories: analytical and general chemistry, instrumental chemical analysis, instrumentation/signal processing, data analysis/chemometrics. Each applet includes a short introduction followed by a user controlled input of experimental conditions, such as seen for diffusion in electrochemistry.

This PDF document from the Center for the Advancement of Process Technology provides a course outline for a basic applied chemistry course. Each section of the document includes learning objectives.

Aquarium Pyramid features exhibits highlighting the Caribbean (coral reef), South Atlantic (penguins), North Pacific (harbor seals), and South Pacific (Great Barrier Reef). Other Moody Garden attractions are: Rainforest Pyramid with Asian, African and American examples; Discovery Pyramid housing traveling interactive science exhibits. Education programs include school tours and hands-on experiences for grades k-12, outreach, kids' camps. Teachers receive visit curriculum guides, can attend credit workshops and open house. Admission and program fees apply.

This webpage (actually, a feed) from the chemistry department at Simon Fraser University displays artistic pictures of liquid crystals.

This service answers users questions on a wide variety of topics in high-energy astronomy. Questions are answered by scientists within the Lab for High-Energy Astrophysics at NASA/GSFC. An archive of questions and answers are categorized by topic for users to browse. Suggestions for additional information resources are also provided.

This is an interactive tutorial, designed to help you understand the role of group theory in assigning infrared and Raman spectra. The site uses Macromedia Flash Player.

These views of asteroids were imaged at close range by the Galileo and Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft. They are presented at the same scale, and images of Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, and Ida's moon Dactyl are also shown. The accompanying text provides a description of the images, some historical facts and statistical data, along with significant dates in asteroid exploration.

This website allows the user to build their own Carbon Atom out of elementary particles (up quarks, down quarks, and electrons). As protons, neutrons, and electrons are added to the atom, the atom changes from one element to another. From hydrogen the atom changes into helium, then lithium, and on up through the Periodic table until it finally becomes carbon. If, while being built, the balance between protons, neutrons, and electrons is not sufficiently maintained, the atom will either become radioactive and decay, or become so ionized that it will attach itself to a molecule outside the building area. In either case, the user must start over. The activity is over when the atom changes into carbon. Read the guides for assistance.

The Materials Science and Technology Teacher's Workshop (MAST) provides this experiment on the basic particle model for metals. The activity uses Bbs in a Petri dish to simulate the formation and movement of metal atoms as well as show dislocation and vacancy movement. Students will fill a Petri dish with bbs and pretend the bbs represent atoms in a metal. The movement of each bb represents heat and this causes various defects in their crystal structure. By doing this, students will observe defects such as vacancies, grain boundaries and dislocations.The lesson includes a step by step explanation of the laboratory procedure and discussion questions. The exercise should take about 40 minutes of class time to complete.

This site features a video lecture on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) by Prof. Arvind Raman of Purdue University that discusses the historical development, instrumentation and operational principles of various AFM modes. The lecture is accompanied by power point slides with clear illustrative graphics. The basics are provided in the application examples with advantages and limitation discussed. This would be a useful site to those interested in learning AFM.

This well-illustrated page from Hyperphysics contains the light emitted by several elements and their respective spectra as well. The page also provides a description of how the size of a holographic image scales with the wavelength of the light used to observe it.

This page from Hyperphysics contains images depicting the light emitted by several elements and their respective spectra. The page also provides a description of how the size of a holographic image scales with the wavelength of the light used to observe it.

This lesson introduces J. J. Thomson's discovery of the electron and E. Rutherford's planetary model of atomic structure. This is the first in a series covering modern atomic theory.