We also celebrate the Van Loo Saturday Morning Physics Lecture on this date.
(Three talks in one)
Entropy, Shape, and Phase Transition - Chrisy Xiyu Du (U-M Physics)
Using Femtosecond Spectroscopy to Illuminate Photosynthesis - Veronica Policht (U-M Physics)
Photosynthesis powers life on Earth. Following the initial absorption of light, the primary energy conversion steps in photosynthesis occur incredibly rapidly (10^-12 s), making it particularly challenging to study. We'll discuss how carefully timed sequences of ultrafast laser pulses enable us to take real-time snapshots that improve our understanding of this critical process.
The Sound Heard 'Round the World' - Brian Worthmann (U-M Applied Physics)
In everyday life, we as humans are used to sounds traveling anywhere from a few feet for a quiet conversation, up to a few miles for some of the loudest sounds. But in the ocean, a fascinating combination of physics allows sound to travel significantly much, much further. We'll talk about how sound travels in air, why it's different in the ocean, and why this fact was a closely guarded secret during the Cold War.