Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011 - (Page 27)

CTY Astrophysics: Around the Universe in Three Weeks study of astronomy and astrophysics is just as new as it is old. The Fermi paradox, the Drake equation, neutron stars, and yes, even the mythical warp drive from Star Trek: these were all topics discussed formally, or informally, in the CTY program on Astrophysics held this summer at Johns Hopkins University. I had expected this summer session to focus on items in space—celestial bodies, galaxies, black holes, and such. After spending several summers with CTY, participating in programs ranging from Forensics and Robotics to Principles of Engineering, I also expected unique and intense hands-on experiences. And this course delivered. We looked for sun spots using light filters and used a giant space telescope one evening after class to look at the Earth’s moon, at stars, and at Saturn. Our classes met six days a week, and we were in classroom lectures up to six hours each day. According to our instructor and teaching assistant, we covered a full semester’s worth of college-level material in just three weeks. What I did not expect was the extent and volume of applied mathematics. Astrophysics at CTY used math extensively to explore laws of gravity, measure stellar distance, and compare parallax angles. In addition to learning about things in space, we learned about the relationships of things in space. Using multiple formulae and astrophysical constants, we applied algebra and geometry to find various relations between astronomical objects and how they affect each other. Some examples included investigating stellar evolution, measuring the speed of light, and determining the expansion rate of the universe. (In case you are wondering, it is approximately 70 kilometers per second per megaparsec!) I tend to think abstractly about the universe. I’m interested in the possibilities of what we might find when we look into the night sky. When you are looking into space, you’re really looking into the past, since you have to by Alex Grundwerg hen I learned about the solar system in elementary school, the end of our universe was defined by the tiny planet Pluto, and I still can’t quite get over the fact that Pluto has since been demoted to the status of “ice dwarf.” As I write this, the Hubble telescope has identified Pluto’s fourth moon and scientists and astronomers are contemplating its name. This shows us that the factor in the amount of time it takes for the light we see to reach us. Even the light from the nearest star travels about four years before we see it. We now have the ability to observe other galaxies filled with stars and planets, and continue to learn more about our own solar system. This brings me back to Pluto. Technically, planets have a stable orbit around a parent star, have sufficient mass to maintain a stable shape, and clear their orbital path of debris. And Pluto? Well, I learned that Pluto is in a binary system, rotating around its largest moon, Charon, while Charon itself rotates around Pluto. And while it is not massive enough to clear its own orbit of space debris and regain its planetary status, this faraway ice dwarf has a newly discovered moon. Customarily, this moon would be named for some character in the mythological underworld, as was Pluto itself. Charon, the largest moon, is named after the ferryman who carried the dead across the river Styx for pieces of gold, the moon Hydra is named for the guardian of the Underworld, and Nix is named for the Greek goddess of night. As for the new moon, I vote for Kerberos, the three-headed dog that guards the gates to the Underworld—but I think Mickey would also be cool. alex grundwerg is a sophomore honors student in science and technology at Colts Neck High School in New Jersey. He is a member of Technology Society of America (TSA) and the school’s Science Bowl team, and he plays attack on the school’s lacrosse team. Alex has participated in CTY summer programs for five years as well as in CTYOnline and Discovery programs. For more information about CTY summer programs, see www.cty.jhu.edu/summer. Physics courses are also available through CTYOnline: www.cty.jhu.edu/ctyonline. www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine imagine 27 http://www.cty.jhu.edu/summer http://www.cty.jhu.edu/ctyonline http://www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Physics Is…
Making the Team
Nuclear by Nature
Physics: The Next Generation
Telescopic Views
Exploring the Mysterious Lives of Stars
Around the Universe in Three Weeks
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Book Buddies
Meeting the (Economics) Challenge
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011