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The Puzzle Corner Welcome back to the ΣΠΣ Puzzle Corner. This edition’s crossword puzzle, prepared by AIP Education Communications Specialist Elizabeth Hook, connects the Eisenhower puzzle of the last issue with the future: the Quadrennial Physics Conference, hosted by ΣΠΣ. In 1958, inspired by Sputnik, the first human-made device to orbit the Earth, President Eisenhower advocated a major US investment in space exploration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established. In November 2012, hundreds of physics undergraduates and ΣΠΣ alumni will gather in Orlando, FL, and tour NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, from which NASA launched Alan Shepard into space, John Glenn into orbit, Neil Armstrong to the moon, and Sally Ride on a shuttle science mission. We trust the crossword will challenge you. Two physics puzzles appear for your consideration as well. We continue to welcome any interesting puzzles you may have to share with your fellow ΣΠΣ alumni. Prizes! Submit solutions for your chance to win a bookstore gift card and see your name appear in Radiations. Prizes will be awarded separately for the crossword and each physics puzzle. Transmit your answers by surface mail to ΣΠΣ Puzzle Corner, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, or by e-mail to tolsen@aip.org. Deadline 15 February 2012 Answers Answers will appear at www.sigmapisigma.org/radiations/puzzlecorner/ on 16 February 2012. Scan with a QR code reader on your smart phone or tablet to see the answers online. Physics Puzzles I. Our first puzzle by Gary White pays homage to the exciting 2011 World Series. a. What is the radius of the largest rocky spheroid from which a human could throw a baseball so that it escapes from the spheroid’s gravitational pull? b. If, instead, the ball is thrown into a circular orbit around this same spheroid, how long will the pitcher have to wait before catching it after it orbits once? Compare this to the space shuttle orbital time. V II. Our second puzzle by Thomas Olsen celebrates the joys of shopping. It also calls for some visual thinking. Most of us know that when two mirrors meet at 90°, you may observe three reflections of yourself: one to the right, one to the left, and one as you look directly into the vertex of the right angle. The image beyond the vertex is special. Unlike the other two, it does not appear to be right-left reversed—we see ourselves as others see us. At what other angles between two mirrors would you see such an image as you look directly into the vertex? “Special” Image Normal Image Normal Image Mirror Object Mirror 30 Radiations Fall 2011
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Across 5. The drink most associated with the space program 7. The first human to walk on the surface of the moon 8. First American woman in space 12. The closest star to our solar system 16. First artificial satellite to orbit the Earth 18. Largest interplanetary spacecraft ever built 19. NASA sent a spacecraft to study Jupiter, launched in 1989, and named it after this astronomer, famous for discovering Jupiter’s four largest moons 21. The first Space Shuttle orbiter, named after the famous television starship 23. The only person to hit a golf ball on the moon 24. This spacecraft was launched on February 7, 1999 to collect comet dust 25. These have been sent to Mars to collect samples and information. Popular ones: Spirit and Opportunity (pl) 26. This type of planet orbits a star and is large enough to be spherical but has not cleared its neighboring planetesimals and is not a satellite (Pluto is now one) Down 1. The successor to the Hubble Telescope, named after the second Administer of NASA (Abbreviation) 2. Comes from the Greek word ozein, meaning ‘smell’ 3. The envelope of gas surrounding the earth or a planet 4. Largest volcano in the solar system 6. The manned space program that came before the Apollo program 7. The name of the first monkey the United States launched into space 9. In December 1962 the first successful planetary flyby was of this planet 10. This ‘belt’ of our solar system beyond Neptune’s orbit was named after this astronomer that suggested it 11. The space telescope carried into orbit around 1990, still in operation, named after this astronomer 13. The lowest density solid material produced, frequently used by NASA 14. Made the first US spacewalk on 3 June 1965 15. First American to circle the Earth 17. First American Astronaut to ride aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket 18. The only US President to be present at a Shuttle Launch 19. First person in space 20. The only person to hit a golf ball on the moon 22. The most massive 26 across planet in the Solar System 24. Prefix for [the official name of] all the Space Shuttle Missions Fall 2011 Radiations 31
Page 1 and 2: Radiations The official publication
Page 3 and 4: The Director’s Corner The Good Ol
Page 5 and 6: The Director’s Corner 2011 Recipi
Page 7 and 8: Society News A Cosmic Connection :
Page 9 and 10: SPS_half_vertical 4/21/11 2:31 PM P
Page 11 and 12: active role in advocating for appro
Page 13 and 14: The Quadrennial Physics Congress is
Page 15 and 16: From Columbiad to Redstone Long bef
Page 17 and 18: Elegant Connections in Physics more
Page 19 and 20: Elegant Connections in Physics Spac
Page 21 and 22: Elegant Connections in Physics knew
Page 23 and 24: Elegant Connections in Physics it w
Page 25 and 26: Elegant Connections in Physics man
Page 27 and 28: 1. Search for galaxies and objects
Page 29: NASA after the shuttle... continued
Page 33 and 34: Initiates List 2010-2011 Lockridge,
Page 35 and 36: Initiates List 2010-2011 Maryland-B
Page 37 and 38: Initiates List 2010-2011 The Colleg
Page 39 and 40: The last lap—Tevatron’s end By

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