October  13. Observing Nature Discovering Science
Outreach activity involving high school students. 
September 29. Observing Nature Discovering Science
Members of the physics department lead an hour long outreach session where twenty 9th and 10th grade high students from UPCS, South High, and Claremont Academy participated and did hands-on activities exploring mechanics, electricity and magnetism, light, and sound.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010. Active Matter Joint Colloquium 1:15pm Lasry 237.
Tubercle Technology: Biomimetics and the Humpback Whale Flipper
Speaker: Professor Frank Fish, West Chester University
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is exceptional among the large baleen whales in its ability to undertake aquabatic maneuvers to catch prey. Humpback whales utilize extremely mobile, wing-like flippers for banking and turning. Large rounded tubercles along the leading edge of the flipper are morphological structures that are unique in nature. The leading edge tubercles act as passive-flow-control devices, which improve flipper performance and maneuverability. Possible fluid dynamic mechanisms could be responsible for improved performance, including stall delay through vortex generation and boundary layer modification, and increase in effective span by reduction of both spanwise flow and strength of the tip vortex. The tubercles provide a bio-inspired design that has commercial viability for wing-like structures. Passive flow control has advantages of eliminating complex, costly, high-maintenance, and heavy control mechanisms, while improving performance for lifting bodies in air and water. The leading edge tubercles can be applied in the design of water- and aircraft, ventilation fans and windmills.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010. The 1st Annual Active Matter Workshop was held at Clark University.
