AAPT-New England Section

New book by Tom Marcella:

Quantum Entanglement and the Loss of Reality.

Quantum mechanics is all about doing experiments. But it predicts only the possible results and the probability of obtaining each result. Results and probabilities. That’s all there are! The ultimate question is, “Is this all there is to know about the quantum experiment?” Bohr answers, “Yes. If we know the results and the probability of occurrence for each result, then we know everything there is to know about that experiment. There is nothing else!””Not so,” says Einstein. “Surely, there must be more to an experiment than just results and probabilities. Obviously, quantum mechanics does not tell us the whole story.”Bell’s theorem says they cannot both be correct. There can be no quantum mechanics that embraces the tenets of classical physics. Nature has to choose one or the other. We answer the question by taking the reader from classical physics through Bell’s theorem in the context of the Bohr-Einstein debate over the meaning of reality. The classical approach of Einstein is pitted against the quantum mechanics of Bohr, common sense against the counterintuitive nature of the new theory. Entanglement is the essential characteristic of quantum mechanics that makes it different from classical theory. And with entanglement there is no reality as we know it. In particular, we discuss the EPR experiment and Bell’s theorem in detail. At the end of it all, we are forced to conclude, as did Bell, that quantum mechanics is incompatible with classical physics. Subsequent experiments confirm that local realism, as professed in classical theory, is untenable.

Due to the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, we have decided to cancel the Spring, 2020 Meeting of the New England Section of AAPT. If you have paid the registration fee for this meeting, you will receive a refund, shortly

As our host site has closed down for the remainder of the semester, the spring meeting is being postponed.

There is a 1-day workshop on Saturday, April 4 2020, at Tufts University on integrating computation into high school and college physics courses. More information including registration can be found here:
https://www.compadre.org/PICUP/events/Boston/index.cfm  

  I speak from personal experience that you will leave the workshop having learned something that you will want to use, be it an activity with spreadsheet, a problem with Python, or just an idea to try. Please share this email with your colleagues whom you think might be interested. Early bird registration ($20) ends March 22.

Who should attend:
Any physics educators within striking distance of the Boston area that want to energize their physics courses! The scope of this workshop is appropriate for physics teachers from high schools, 2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities.

The workshop will include demonstrations and discussions about various aspects of integrating computational activities into physics courses at all levels from introductory to advanced.  There will also be guided working time wherein participants will explore tested computational exercises, and will build an outline that will serve as the beginning of a plan for integrating computational activities into their specific courses. Finally, by participating in this workshop participants will become plugged into a growing and supportive community of like-minded physics educators dedicated to improving the physics curriculum. The support system includes a repository of developed computational materials as well as dedicated online and personal community support.

Best wishes,
Jay Wang
Co-organizer
Physics, UMass Dartmouth

The New England AAPT Meeting will be this spring in CT.

Please use this link to submit poster or oral presentations.

or cut and paste https://forms.gle/B5ntWiRyHjVVKEiE6

• Location:  
  • Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
    Exley Science Center, 265 Church St, Middletown, CT

To register for the conference, register on our Wild Apricot Page.

Or paste this link: https://aapt-nes.wildapricot.org/event-3733429

• Date: 
• • May 1 and 2 (Friday/Saturday), 2020

• Host Contact:
  • Vacek Miglus, Wesleyan University

The MIT Museum is seeking middle or high school educators who, in collaboration with the Education & Public Programs team, will teach established science and technology workshops in an informal education environment. Teachers will also develop and implement an independent project that augments current workshops at the MIT Museum. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a behind-the-scene perspective of the Museum, explore current science and technology research at MIT, share your classroom expertise with our staff, and serve as a liaison between the Museum and your school. 

Successful applicants will be current middle or high school teachers specializing in science, math and/or engineering. S/he will be interested in collaborating with the Museum’s Education & Public Programs team to evaluate existing workshops, expand the Museum’s educational offerings, and learn about informal education pedagogy. Must be flexible, detail-oriented and a team player. Summer educator positions are temporary full-time (35 hours/week, M-F, 9:30-5pm) for six weeks, from July 1-August 9, 2018 (with 1-2 days prior for orientation and training). Compensation of $22-$25/hour will be provided, based on experience. Please send resume and cover letter to edsearch@mit.edu.