The idea of sharing equipment, experiments and teacher training is unique to our group. We strongly believe that physics can help bring people together. It can build bridges between universities. The realpolitik of the university’s life can be the exception, rather than the rule. Furthermore, the infectious spread of negativity leaves all the more the desire to learn, teach and create. And what better an opportunity can we find than through physics!
The Physlab has now manufactured two sets of an experiment titled “Measurement of Planck’s constant using spectrum of a light bulb” to
the National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad. This is part of its outreach mission in sharing knowledge, technology and expertise with sister institutions across Pakistan for development of modern experimental physics laboratories.
These setups are a beautiful blend of modern optical equipment assembled within a in-house manufactured apparatus. The project, spanned over three months, reiterates our commitment to foster the culture of science in particular physics education through the use of modern technology.
NUST is now the sixth University where LUMS Physics lab will make its presence felt.
The experiment itself uses a domestic bulb and spectral filtering to find a fundamental physical constant. The underlying principle is usage of Planck’s radiation law that itself marked the dawn of quantum mechanics. The temperature of the bulb is measured purely electrically and later the temperature and wavelength of the filtered light is employed to determine Planck’s constant. The experiment involves mathematical modeling, fitting of data against theoretical predictions and is a nice blend of thermodynamics, electricity and quantum physics.
Project lead: Dr. Sabieh Anwar
Assistance: Azeem Iqbal, Hafiz Rizwan, Khadim Husain
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- LUMS shares educational technology with NUST
