Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Beginnings Of Mathematics, Gail Ray

Honors Theses

Our first conceptions of number and form date back to times as far removed as the Old Stone Age. Little progress was made in understanding numerical values and space relations until the transition occurred from the mere gathering of food to its actual production, from hunting and fishing to agriculture. With this fundamental change, a revolution in which the passive attitude of man toward nature turned into an active one, we enter the New Stone Age. The tempo of technical improvement was enormously accelerated.

(Ultra-Rapid) Fluorescent Labelling Of Proteins, Cynthia Elaine Wilson

Honors Theses

The goal at the outset of this research project was to prepare fluorescent labeled bovine plasma albumin. A reprint of "Ultra-Rapid Fluorescent Labelling of Proteins" by Dr. Henry Rinderknecht, Director of California Corporation for Biochemical Research, Los Angeles, California, was secured to serve as reference material for the project.

Kinetics Of The Decomposition Of The Cupric Ion Sulfhydryl Bond In Beef Plasma Albumin, Gary Rice

Honors Theses

The purpose of this work was to study the kinetics of the binding of cupric ion to beef plasma albumin, in particular the decomposition of the Cu++--BPA complex which absorbs light at 375 millimicrons.

The work of Klotz, Urquhart, Klotz, and Ayers has shown that the characteristic absorption band at 375 mu produced by the binding of cupric ion to beef plasma albumin is due to a copper- sulfhydryl bond. They have further demonstrated that the disappearance of this absorption band with time is accompanied by irreversible changes in the structure of the protein. The intensity of the initial absorption …

Ionium Age Determination, Leon Johnson

Honors Theses

Natural radioactive decay provides a means of determining the age of geological specimens. It is found that the number of atoms of a radioactive isotope disintegrating per unit time is linearly proportional to the existing number of atoms and independent of exterior parameters.

A History Of Mathematics Through The Time Of Greek Geometry, Janet Moffett

Honors Theses

The concept of numbers and the process of counting developed long before the time of recorded history. The manner of its development is not known for certain but is largely conjectural. It is presumed that man, even in most primitive times, had some number sense, at least to the extent of recognizing "more" or "less" when objects were added or taken away from a small group. As civilization progressed it became necessary for man to count. He needed to know the number of sheep he owned, the number of people in his tribe, etc. The most logical method was to …

Selections From "Mathematics: Our Great Heritage" Edited By William L. Schaaf, Mary Beth Mcgee

Honors Theses

This paper reviews and summarizes several essays within the text, Mathematics: Our Great Heritage edited by William L. Schaaf.

Mathematical Philosophy, Janie Ferguson

Honors Theses

The purpose of Mathematical Philosophy by Cassius J. Keyser is to delve into some of the more essential and significant relations between mathematics and philosophy. To see this relation, one must gain insight into the nature of mathematics as a distinctive type of thought. The standard of excellence in the quality of thinking to which mathematicians are accustomed is called "logical rigor;" clarity and precision are essentials. The demands of logic, however, cannot be fully satisfied even in mathematics, but it meets the requirements much more nearly than any other discipline. Thus, the amount of mathematical training essential to education …

Introduction To Astrophysics And Study Of Cosmic-Ray Collisions And Scanning, David L. C. Lau

Honors Theses

The discovery of tremendous amounts of energy from the Atomic Explosion (ex: first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima) was not something new. For billions of years, atoms have been splitting with the release of such energy whenever stars are shining. We know that the atomic energy is being released from the sun and stars, and that this process has been going on for unthinkable years. However, the sun's atomic energy has been under control constantly, and its release of radiation (dynamic force) has supplied the constant supply of light and heat best suited for the well-being of mankind.

There are times, …

A General Study Of The Computer Process, Mary Beth Mangrum

Honors Theses

The electronic device known as the Computer was developed many years ago and is widely used by businessmen, scientists, and engineers to assist in solving many types of problems. In order to understand how computers can help you solve problems, it is best to disregard some of the impressions gained from popular accounts of the computers use. The computer is not a magic brain which will replace the human brain; the computer simply performs a series of mathematical or logical steps according to instructions which spell out exactly how it is to perform the required operations.

The computer's primary purpose …

An Attempt To Determine Molybdenum By Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Gary Rice

Honors Theses

An attempt was made to work out a method for routinely determining molybdenum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A stock standard was prepared containing 100 ppm molybdenum as MO4. Sensitivity of the spectrophotometer was found to be zero for aqueous solutions in the 1-10 ppm range. A pH-dependence study of extraction of the molybdate with DDC and MIBK gave best results at about pH 4.

A Glance At The Showmanship Of Physics, John E. Savage

Honors Theses

"Teachers should present dramatic demonstrations of scientific principles and involve students in them. They should dispense fewer facts, ask more questions, and stir the intellect. Then the students will puzzle out the answers and remember them," says Professor Julius Sumner Miller of El Camino College in Southern California. "Remember this! If you're dead, and the text book is dead, you'll have dead students."

The classic example of the intellect being stirred by dramatic demonstrations took place in London when Sir Humphrey Davey gave the Christmas Lectures. Believe it or not, people paid to hear these lectures dealing with natural· physical …

Sunspots, James Mccarty

Honors Theses

This past semester the physics department began a study of the solar wind. Photographic plates have been sent up by balloon during periods of both maximum and minimum solar activity. The tracks made by high-energy particles on these 3mulsions are to be located and analyzed. Unfortunately, since the plates have yet to arrive, only a little practice scanning was done to become familiar with the technique. Meanwhile, an attempt has been made to gather information ab::mt the sun and the solar wind. This paper is a part of that work.

A Report Of Work For H492, Claudia Morgan Griffin

Honors Theses

My research project for this year is to study nuclear emulsion plates sent to the physics department by Dr. Davi.d Young of Mississippi State University and to learn as much as possible about the fields related to the project. These plates are exposed to cosmic rays at altitudes, for all practical purposes, above the earth's atmosphere. They are then collected and processed. They will be sent to us so that we can scan them next semester.

The first semester's part of the project was to scan a sample plate and to do· a literature research of related fields. Therefore, this …

The Configuration Of Dichlorodiphenylethers, Wayne Lavelle Brantley

Honors Theses

No definite molecular configuration of diphenylethers has ever been substantiated by experimental proof. Due to the free rotation of the benzene rings about the oxygen linkage, the diphenylether can take any number of spatial configurations. Some theoretical work has been done in trying to determine the molecular structure, but it was felt that careful examination of the high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the ethers would be useful in determining a structure.

Synthesis And Nitrosation Of 5,8-Dimethylhydrocarbostyril And Hydrocarbostyril, Harold Leigh Frye

Honors Theses

Research was undertaken this year to complete Huisgen's efforts by synthesizing the six-membered ring N-nitrosobenzo­lactam. This gap was left by Huisgen due to his unsuccessful attempt to produce N-nitroeohydrooarbostyril. My efforts were applied to this problem; namely, the synthesis of the six-membered N-nitrosolactam of hydrocarbostyr11 and 5,8-dimethylhydrocarboetyril.

Electrostatic Models Of Bonding In Molecules, John Joseph Moore Jr.

Honors Theses

Calculations of the energy differences between ground and excited states will be presented. A comparison of the results will be made.

Kinetics Of The Deformylation Of 2,6-Dichlorobenzaldehyde In Moderately Concentrated Sodium Hydroxide, Clifford William Coughlin

Honors Theses

Bunnett, Miles, and Nahabedian (3) studied the kinetics of the alkali cleavage of 2, 6-dichlorobenzaldehyde at base concentrations ranging from .211M. to 1.86M. They found that the simplest mechanism which gives an adequate account of the kinetics is represented by equations (I) and (II). For the step presented by equation (II), kc is the concentration independent second-order rate constant. The purpose of this project was to expand the region studied to the highest feasible base concentration.

Radiation Chemistry Of Aqueous Chloroform Solutions, Henry Douglas Kutz

Honors Theses

Saturated aqueous chloroform solutions have been irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source. G values for the formation of HCl in oxygenated and deaerated solutions have been determined. Preliminary work involving the determination of hydrogen gas from the irradiated solutions is reported.

A Review Of (P→D) Π-Bonding In Silicon Compounds, Donald Robert Siebert

Honors Theses

In spite of all the work done since Brockway and Coop's articles appeared in 1938, the problem of the use of silicon's 3d-orbitals in bonding still remains inconclusive.

An Ultraviolet Absorption Study Of The Carbamate Reaction As An Explanation Of Carbon Dioxide Transport In The Blood, Bruce Raymond Cassidy

Honors Theses

This research project was undertaken in order to determine the applicability of ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy as a means of studying the carbamate reaction of carbon dioxide with glycine or diglycine. These compounds are thought to model the physiological substrate hemoglobin. Where for glycine R = -CH2- and for diglycine R = -CH2-CO-NH- CH2-. The reaction involves only the non-ionized alpha-amino group of the conjugate base species. It is therefore necessary that the reaction be run in a moderately basic medium, but at pHs not greater than ten. The ultraviolet absorption spectra for the conjugate acid, zwitter-ion, and conjugate base of …

Attempted Oxidation Of Benzaldehyde With Sodium Bismuthate (Part One). Reduction Of Xanthene By Lithium In Methylamine (Part Two), Gordon Lee Schiff

Honors Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether sodium bismuthate would oxidize an aldehyde containing only one oxygen atom. Benzaldehyde was selected for these studies because it is a relatively good reducing agent and is not likely to undergo condensation reactions. (Part One).

The primary objective of this research is to confirm Nielsen's proposal that (I) and/or (II) is the oxidation product of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrofluorene. In doing so, this project is also concerned with the attempted reduction of xanthene and the subsequent oxidation of its reduction product. (Part Two).

Determination Of Calcium By The Coulometric Generation Of Oxalate Ion, Brian Jude David Koch

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research was to develop an electrode sensitive to calcium ion concentration that could be used to detect the endpoint in an automatic titration involving the generation of oxalate by the reduction of lead oxalate.

The Chronopotentiometry Of Bismuth, Cynthia Elaine Wilson

Honors Theses

Whenever a constant current electrolysis is performed without stirring, the potentials of the electrodes change with time because the concentrations change at the surfaces of the electrodes. The principle of chronopotentiometry is based upon the idea that since the current is kept constant, the electrolysis proceeds at a constant rate. When the electrolysis circuit is closed, the concentrations of the substances taking part in the electrochemical reaction at the surface of the electrode start to vary. The electrode takes up the equilibrium potential as given by the Nernst equation provided the reaction is reversible. If the transport of the substances …

Plane Protective Geometry, Lana Sue Legrand

Honors Theses

The following study was based on the text A Modern Introduction to Geometries by Annita Tuller, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Hunter College. The study consisted of problem solving at the end of each topic studied. Therefore, this paper contains a brief summary of the topics covered followed by the problems solved with theta respective drawings. No attempted is made to include all of the theorems, axioms, or definitions necessary to solve the problems but page references are given to refer to the text.

The Effect Of Oak Leaves On The Leaching Of Trace Metals From Sand, Thomas Elton Goodwin

Honors Theses

Sand is fairly rich in some common trace metals, notably manganese and iron. However, these metals for the most part are in a state which renders them insoluble in water. It is thought that the presence of organic matter (principally leaves) in the water enhances the dissolution of some of these trace metals into the aqueous solution.

This enhancement of dissolution is generally thought to come about in three main ways: (1) The organic matter present lowers the oxygen content of the water, and the metals are reduced into a soluble form, (2) The organic material, some of which is …

The Development Of The Calculus, Janie Ferguson

Honors Theses

The Greeks made the first step in the inquiry of the infinitely small quantities by an attempt to determine the area of curves. The method of exhaustions they used for this purpose consisted of making the curve a limiting area, to which the circumscribed and inscribed polygons continually approached by increasing the number of their sides. The area obtained was considered to be the area of the curve. The method of integration is somewhat similar, to the extent that it involves finding the limits of sums. Zeno of Elea (c. 450 B.C.) was one of the first to work with …

Acid-Base Titrations In Non-Aqueous Solvents, Gary Rice

Honors Theses

The acid-base titration is one of the simper methods available to the analytical chemist. Many organic compounds exhibit acidic or basic properties. Proper selection of solvent makes possible analytical determination of extremely weak acids and bases. This paper discusses the three solvent properties that are important in determining the acid-base behavior of a solute.

Nomography, Scotty Andrews

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Physics Curriculum Of Ouachita Baptist University, James Mccarty

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to compare the physics curriculum of Ouachita Baptist University with those of several other colleges with the ultimate goal of finding what changes, if any, should by made. Four colleges and universities were used for comparison. Hendrix College is a Methodist college which had an enrollment of 757 during the 1965-66 school year. State College of Arkansas is a state-supported school with 3,129 students during the same year. Little Rock University is a private school which is aided by the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. It had 2,851 students in 1965-66. Southwestern at Memphis …

A Study Of The Curriculum Of The Natural Science Division Of Ouachita Baptist University, Natural Sciences Group

Honors Theses

In our evaluation of the curriculum of the Natural Science Division, we began by reviewing the catalogue descriptions of our courses and evaluating whether the courses meet the objectives given. To do this we divided into departments since our division is so large. Next, we wrote to Hendrix, Little Rook University, Southwestern at Memphis, and State College of Arkansas and compared their course offerings with ours. In this comparison we discovered our strengths and weaknesses and changes that need to be made in our present curriculum. In several cases we decided upon possible alterations which would aid the student going …