Our dedicated and talented faculty at Hampden-Sydney never cease to amaze us. While contributing to the College’s mission of forming good men and good citizens, they also make significant contributions to their academic fields. Their scholarly pursuits often enrich the classroom experience, inspiring innovative activities that can lead to meaningful discoveries and publications. In November, Professor of Physics and Astronomy Steven Bloom exemplified this by publishing an academic article in the journal Physics Education, expanding on one of his previous in-class activities.
The academic article, “Using Excel and VLC Player to examine the takeoff of a Boeing 747-400 ERF,” details an in-class activity that Bloom had previously conducted as an assignment in his Classical Mechanics (PHYS 331) class. This activity, designed for mechanics students, explores the forces acting on an airplane and the resulting path during takeoff, utilizing Excel and VLC Player. According to Bloom, “Students use a Euler-based integration method in Excel to predict the takeoff run of a Boeing 747-400 ERF, factoring in forces like thrust, lift, drag, and friction. They then analyze a YouTube video of the takeoff with VLC Player to measure real-world data such as time, distance, velocity, and acceleration. A video, instructions, and the Excel code are provided for other classes to replicate the activity.”
Bloom, who enjoys incorporating Excel-based assignments into his teaching, was eager to find a way to blend his academic passions with engaging in-class activities.
“In addition to astrophysics, I have always had an interest in aeronautics and astronautics, which involve air and space flight,” Bloom says. “At about the time our department started the engineering physics major, I looked at my mechanics class and thought about what types of assignments could relate to fields of engineering. That’s when I thought about the takeoff of an airplane. The details can get complicated, but the fundamental physics can be handled in spreadsheets like Excel.”
Bloom’s work was supported by summer funding from Hampden-Sydney. Additionally, Sipp Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Trey Thurman played a key role by providing valuable feedback and guidance, highlighting the importance and strength of collaboration at the College.
“I am very grateful for Hampden-Sydney's support of my work,” Bloom says “Not all colleges and universities have internal support for faculty, so I am glad this exists. I’m also grateful for supportive colleagues who are willing to take the time out of their schedules to discuss my work.”
As our faculty continue to excel, the opportunities for further integrating classroom learning with scholarly pursuits are endless. Bloom stands as a prime example of how these two realms can complement each other, seamlessly blending his in-class activity with his academic work to enrich his scholarship and his teaching. As faculty continue to strengthen the connection between teaching and scholarly activities, the potential for new discoveries and innovative education grows, benefiting both students and the broader academic community.
Read the full academic article: "Using EXCEL and VLC PLAYER to examine the takeoff of a Boeing 747-400 ERF"