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Radar Gun Luge
Einstein's famous proposition concerning relative motion and the speed of light has intrigued scientists for a century. The bowl shape of Cole Field House was perfect for the construction of two 300-foot downhill tracks. Luge carts carrying remote-controlled radar guns, video cameras, transmitters and more traveled at high speeds on the parallel tracks.
Using the equipment provided, finalists were given a chance to confirm one of the basic notions proposed by Einstein – the speed of an object in motion is relative to the speed of the observer. Judges evaluated each teams' experimental designs and techniques as well as measurement results. |
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Rebecca Chan reads the challenge description to her attentive Team Red members.
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Rebecca Chan, Anastasia Roda, and Nicholas Ekladyous prepare to use the radar gun.
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Dr. Jessica Clark, a member of the University of Maryland's Physics Department, explains how the radar gun works to Rebecca Chan and Anastasia Roda.
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Kevin Lane carefully moves his cart – mounted with a radar gun – into position on the luge track and prepares to put the theory of relativity to the test.
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Rebecca Chan gets the radar gun in position and awaits the arrival of two luge carts on parallel tracks, as a judge looks on.
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To support his team's methodology, Nicholas Ekladyous measures a stretch of track.
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Nicholas Ekladyous and Anastasia Roda watch a cart whiz by as Rebecca Chan captures its speed via radar.
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Dustin Shea and Joy Hines are in position to release their cart.
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Ready, set, go! Joy Hines releases her team's luge cart to her teammates waiting below.
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| PHOTOS: By Richard Cho |
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