Physics Project 2013

Fundamental Experiments in Quantum Physics

We will again focus on experiments that investigate the quantum nature of matter. We plan to study the wave-particle duality of light, investigate the photoelectric effect, and determine the lifetime of short-lived muons in cosmic rays. We will also make quantitative measurements of such fundamental constants as the speed of light, the electron charge using the Millikan oil drop experiment, and Planck's constant h. And we will repeat such classical experiments as the Rutherford scattering experiment, to measure the size of the atomic nucleus, and the Bragg scattering experiment, to determine the stucture of crystals using our own x-ray machine. Many of these experiments have resulted in the awarding of a Nobel Prize, when they were originally performed.