The purpose of this demonstration is to introduce a higher level physics concept to high school level students. This is motivated by the fact that we can explain gravitational waves in a simplified manner using concepts that are taught at the high school level.
By talking the students through the principles of waves and gravitation it can be illustrated that the concepts they are currently learning can be expanded into higher level physics on the cutting edge of research.
Additionally, this project intends to teach the students about the technological feat of the LIGO project, and why the discovery of gravitational waves was so exciting to physicists and astronomers.
Goals
- Reviewing the concepts of waves and gravity to give the students a solid background
- Introducing the concept of gravitational waves by relating to the wave and gravity concepts previously introduced
- Showing that the intersection between theoretical and experimental physics led to this incredible discovery
- Using a demonstration to help students visualize the propogation of gravitational waves in the universe
