Summer 2002

Determination of the Temperature Dependence of Young's Modulus for Stainless Steel Using a Tuning Fork
— Lisa Bates, Timothy Beach and Maya Arnott, Univeristy of Wisconsin—River Falls

• Design of a Low Cost Gamma Ray Spectrometer to Investigate Special Relativity
  — James Bopp, Truman State University
• Exploration in Ten Pin: A Simplified Model of a Bowling System
  — Jocelyn Christensen, Carleton College
• Laboratory Measurements of Velocity Profiles in Simulated Tornado-like Vortices
  — J, David Cleland, Miami University
• Energy States of a Gaussian Wavepacket in an Infinite Square Well
  — David Etlinger, University of Rochester
• Body Vibrational Spectra of Metal Flute Models
   — Clare M. Hurtgen, Duke University
• Relatavistic Pendula
  — Eric Jones, Universit of Southern Mississippi
• Modeling Pion Flow in a 139La + 139La Collision
  — Daniel Valente, Hope College

Rexford E. Adelberger, JURP Editor

     The Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics (JURP) began with the April 22-23, 1979, meeting of the SPS National Council, in a recommendation of the Communications Committee, chaired by Rexford Adelberger of Guilford College. The Committee recommended the "establishment of a new publication devoted to student work." The 1980 Council minutes record, "If SPS is interested in pursuing this type of journal, there is a need to identify a potential editor who will make a relatively long term commitment. This would have to go before the AIP Publications Board... Dr. Askew mentioned that Dr. Adelberger was totally committed to this project and was to be suggested for the position of editor." In 1981, the AIP Executive Committee approved the founding of JURP, and Dr. Adelberger was named as its editor.

     At the 1982 Council meeting, JURP was described as "the newest AIP journal" with a small but enthusiastic subscriber base, including several university libraries. By 1987, the SPS Executive Committee voted to make JURP an on-membership benefit for all SPS members, a step that was implemented in 1988. For 20 years, JURP has been the SPS peer-reviewed, biannual physics journal, and Dr. Adelberger has been its editor. During this time, some 40 issues of JURP have appeared exclusively in print. Today, JURP will enter a new phase, with electronic publishing.

     The quality and mission of JURP are not being changed. JURP still considers for publication any paper on physics-related research, provided the work was performed by the students while they were undergraduates. The papers are still peer-reviewed by other undergraduate students. The vision of Dr. Adelberger and the SPS Councils from 1979 to the present will live on, but the mechanics for submitting, publishing, and distributing JURP are now changing to electronic technology. Review this website to see how to submit papers, see back issues, and learn more about your journal. Any student who has done an REU, or given a talk at an SPS zone meeting, no doubt has a paper to write for JURP. Be a published author before you graduate!

Student Research from National Meetings

Acoustic Band Gaps and Defect Modes in Periodically-Structured Wave Guides
— J. N. Munday, C. Brad Bennett, and W. M. Robertson, Middle Tennessee State University

Special Feature
Preparing a Manuscript for Publication
— Rex E. Adelberger, Editor

SPS National Research Awards

2001-02 Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Awards

2001-02 Outstanding Student Research Awards (formerly the ICPS Travel Awards)

Win a Free Trip to the AAPT National Meeting in Austin, TX
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