Gaurav Harsha (Physical Science - 2011 Batch) on Anthropic Principle

Why is the Universe the Way it is ? 

How the physical laws, principles and natural constants that govern our universe may have been influenced by our presence as observers. 

Observing how we question our place in the cosmos through the Anthropic Principle, we walked through several real world theories attributed to it and took a peek into the inner workings of this fine-tuned universe.

Archit Dube (Physical Science - 2010 Batch) on Physics of the paranormal

Is telepathy possible? Can we build Force Fields? Is psychokinesis possible for some beings..................?

Or can we see into the future by just concentrating?

Archit Dube tried to answer such questions by talking about the opening and the mysterious closing of star gate project of the US. Also he discussed about different animals whom people thought to be telephaths , the possibility of their being real and fake. Different psychokinetic people and researches done on them were also discussed. A video on Noetic sciences was shown in which experiments with thoughts were done. Crowd was cheered by  Dr Murugesh S Sir’s (Physics, Assi. Prof.)  gracious presence.

Harsh Agarwal (Aerospace - 2009 Batch) on Plasma Physics

What is plasma? Which equations does this state govern?

Harsh Agarwal talked about the most abundant matter in the universe its origin the governing equations Fluid (model & kinetic model) and its applications (present and future). Also he talked about his internship project at ‘INSTITUTE OF PLASMA PHYSICS’ Gandhinagar and briefly explained about the research at CERN. We thank Dr. Thomas Kurian Dean (Student Activities) & Head Department of Avionics for his gracious presence on this event.

Dancing Flames

As  kids we are always fascinated by Fire. Playing with matchsticks but have you ever seen a flame dance???...

And not only that, dancing on a music???...

In this demonstration we made an attempt to play with fire and create extraordinary demonstrations. With the guiding’s of Umesh Sir, the hard work of Mithun PS[2^nd yr Physical Science] and 1^st yr students we were able to bring  new understandings for this fascination. We were able to make our own ruben’s tube which was a visual delight for the crowd, a magic paper which on burning flies(ashes) as it were the smoke itself, colour of burning different salts in air was kept to play with. This demo also had basic physics experiments like the balloon and cup kept on flame not burning and the direction of a flame on rotation axis. Our Director ‘Dr. Das Gupta’ and Dean student-activities ‘Dr. Thomas Kurian’ enlightened us with their reviews.

Paper bird

Ruben's Tube

Egg-Citing Physics

When we were small we were taught about food, about egg and milk being the balanced diet and we also learn how biologically egg is strong, but did you know that egg is physically strong also and it can bear a person's weight. Boiled or raw egg, which one will win the race?? How to bounce an egg?? How an egg's centre of mass raises itself?? Why water rises only to a certain height when an egg spins in it?? Egg-citing physics asks all these questions and answers them. Another part of the demonstration was a project in which the principle of measurement of temperature at which an egg boils exactly was attempted.

Strength of Eggs

Dynamics of an Egg

Nutrition of an Egg

Best of the Demo of the week

The academic year 2010 -2011 had commenced and a new batch of fresh minds had entered the campus. The physics club thinking on how to welcome them decided upon giving the fresher’s a glimpse of the most interesting and challenging "Demo of the week" where all you have to do is have play with physics. Their eyes rolled out with excitement and lots of enthusiasm experiencing the basic principles they knew while playing with some daily used materials. It comprised of principles like conservation of angular momentum, sound frequency detection, centre of symmetry and calculating g by using magnets.

The Last Airbender

The two mega projects of IIST mingle finally with the "Demo of The Week" coming under the aegis of the Physics Club. The first DftW organised by the Physics Club was on the Bernoulli Principles. The 2009 batch students with the supervision of Akshay Pande and Ashish Sachan from 2009 batch, and under the guidance and brillant ideas of Dr. Umesh R. Kadhane, Asst. Professor Physics demonstrated some splendid experiments. The videos and pictures portray the enjoyment of the demonstrators and participants.

Ramiz Ahmad (Physical Science - 2008 Batch) on Fiber Optics

His talk was focused on developing a fiber optical humidity sensor.This sensor worked on the principle that the refractive index of some materials like hydrogels changes with the change in the humidity of the surrounding.His project showed that the particular complex film they chose was a highly promising material for humidity sensing.

Upgrades in the Armoury

With the activities of the Physics Club having increased and more envisaged, the Physics Club was finally formalized, with financial support from the institute. We now have an alloted fixed fund per semester for small scale student projects and one large scale project pre year/semester.

So all members of the physics club are encouraged to send in their ideas in formal abstracts to the club email ID : physics.iist@gmail.com. The abstracts will be selected by the faculties based on feasability and utility. Then you may form a small work group and give the details of the stages of the project and how it shall be developed. The funds will be allotted thereafter.

Also the Physics Club has been alloted a room in D2 Block of the institute. All activities of the Physics Club, including meeting and project lab. work shall be arranged in this room hereafter.

We also have plans to organise an Annual Physics Symposium at IIST, inviting students from diffeent college pursueing B.Tech or B.Sc courses to present their idea or exhibits on different topics.

Umesh R. Kadhane (Assistant Professor - Physics) on Dancing a Waltz with Fullerene

The first faculty speech on the Physics Club was flagged of by Umesh Sir with an attractive note - "Dancing a Waltz with Fullerene".

Harsh Agrawal (Aerospace - 2009 Batch) on Fractals - Self-symmetry and applications

After a lot of postponing and advancing the time and date due to the mid-tern examination, the presentation by Harsh Agrawal was finally delivered amidst a shortage of classrooms and a poultry audience due to last moment schedule changes.

However, speaking on a topic of his immense personal interest, Harsh delivered a very informative and well prepared show. The mathematical basis and varied definition of fractals; the commonly known fractals; eight queen problem; and most importantly, their appearances in our physical world - these were the topics the speech hovered on. In conclusion, the resemblance of Fractal and Chaos theory to that of a Grand Unified Theory was also looked into by the speaker. Harsh Agrawal also showed images of fractals that he himself programmed in Dev C++.

Though the crowd count didn't exceed two score and the projector couldn't be arranged for, the presence of 3 faculties - Anandamayee Tej Ma'am (Earth & Space Sc., Asso. Prof.), Murugesh S Sir (Physics, Assi. Prof.) and Narayanmurthy Sir (Physics, HOD) and their discussion proved valuable.

Akshay Kohli (Avionics - 2009 Batch) on Introduction to Antimatter

The Physics Club has made a step further in the process of being given an official status in the institution. Meanwhile, we had a talk on Antimatter by Akshay Kohli.

It's a human tendency to seek what he doesn't have. Here we seek for the thing which is opposite to us - the thing we can't come in contact with. What is so important in Antimatter? How is it special? The talk delved deep into the particle physics of the Quantum World and the various ongoing researches by many countries in this heading.

The session was graced by six faculty members who, along with some sixty members who were present, enjoyed their respective scoops of Antimatter.

 

Aritra Sarkar (Avionics - 2009 Batch) on Fingerprint of God

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology shifts to its main campus at Valiamala, Kerala. So the Physics Club faced a few problems as the projectors were not installed. The presentation were handled by some dozen laptops individually running the slideshow.

The first session of the new semester started with a talk by Aritra Sarkar on a topic covering Architecture, Cosmology, Genetics, Music, Art, Psychology, Biology, Phyllotaxy as well as Mathematics. The Golden Ratio and its occurrence in the Universe - it is as if, wherever there is creation, there is Phi - the epitome of Beauty. The huge correlation of facts astounded the audience. Apart from The Golden Mean, a diversion into the World of Mathemagical Blackholes added to the number game.

The 2010 Batch had their first day in the Physics Club with about seventy students from the college attending the session adding another feather to our cap.

Navjot Singh (Aerospace - 2009 Batch) on Musica Universalis

Graced by the presence of Anandamayee Tej Ma'am the last session of this semester ended on a musical tone.

The divine music of nature, the Platonic solids, the Keplerian Laws - it's as if a web of reality. It was mostly about how the ratio of planet's length & angular velocity from each other match with the musical harmonies. A journey on the shoulder of giants - into the world of music and maths - and our journey into this symmetry with Navjot as the spearhead!


Not much of a discussion followed due to the informative nature of the topic, however Ramiz and Rakesh shed their views on the topic.

Rakesh Laxman (Physical Science - 2009 Batch) on Euler-Lagrange equation

The heavy shower took a toll on the turnout. However, those who were present, enjoyed the flow of free minds.

The Euler-Lagrange equation is a very helpful tool in solving various problem of mechanics. It was fascinating knowing that; what we think wasn't that way, its slightly different. Motion that is supposed to be parabolic is actually an arc of a cycloid. A mathematical challenge that helps a lot in solving mechanics problem. Few topics are explored in this field and there are still lots to behold.

With the eloquence of Rakesh and the interactions with Navjot, the third evening of the Physics Club turned out to be a success.

Annam Madhulika (Avionics - 2009 Batch) on Time Travel

From science fiction to its journey through the minds of the likes of Einstein - It was on how theory supports possibility that you can go into the past or the future. Concepts of Worm Holes and travelling with speed greater than 'c'. Paradoxes and their resolutions. It packed a punch!

Solutions to paradox can be given by two theories. First, concept of parallel universe and second, forces that restrict us to do anything in past (like if we would want to fly there is gravity; it would restrict us to fly and stay on ground).

Overall, it was an exciting half hour and the talk was enjoyed by all. Hot discussion by Praveen, Akshay, Rakesh, Aritra and Harsh kept the crowd alive apart from the simplified and fluent talk by Madhulika.

Harsh Agarwal (Aerospace - 2009 Batch) on Perpetual Motion Machine

The Physics Club inaugurates its activities on Monday 10th May 2010, with an open discussion on Perpetual Motion Machine.


A class III Impossibility where the existing physical laws of Thermodynamics already denies its existence. However the lifelong experiments of a host of scientists and their failed efforts on making one, made an amusing and knowledgeable evening discussion.


Proving and disproving went along the way. Divyanshu, Akshay, Madhav, Rakesh, Rajil and Aritra - a healthy discussion kept the spirit of the physics club alive.