Merrill Works to Create Labs for Willamette Physics Professors and Students
By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- It makes sense that physics professors and their students spend a lot of time conducting experiments about gravity, light and other features of the world around us. New and different experiments are possible if newer laboratory equipment is used. That's where Willamette swimmer and physics major Shelby Merrill comes into the picture.
Merrill is working for the Willamette Physics Department this summer under a National Science Foundation grant called Optics and Photonics Training for Inquisitive eXperimentalists (OPTIX) that was received by professors Michaela Kleinert, David Altman and Rick Watkins. Merrill is helping construct a series of new laboratory equipment that will enable Willamette to conduct a more modern range of experiments.
Merrill is primarily working with Kleinert, who is overseeing the construction of a Cavandish apparatus. "It measures 'G', the gravitational constant," Merrill said.
Two weights are attached at opposite ends of a rod that is suspended from a wire, Merrill explained. Two bigger weights are placed near the weights on the rod, causing the rod to rotate slightly and twisting the wire. Although the movement is very minimal, it allows the gravitational constant of the Earth to be determined.
Watkins is working on new lasers for the Physics Department, while Altman is overseeing the building of a new microscope through the Science Collaborative Research Project at Willamette.
Merrill has helped with the lasers and is constructing the microscope as another part of his work for the department this summer. The lasers came mostly pre-assembled, but "I did have to solder my own circuits," he said. Overall, he's putting in plenty of physical labor that will benefit himself and other students once the various labs and modules are completed.
There's more to Merrill's efforts, too. "And then I write up the labs for students to complete this fall with the new or newly refurbished equipment."
His focus on adding to the lab modules available for the Physics Department has allowed Merrill to strengthen his commitment to the program.
Merrill already knew that "the Physics Department has a whole lot of neat, old physics apparatus." In addition, he noted that "modern physics is meant to teach you a lot about relativity (at high speed) and quantum concepts (regarding very tiny objects)." The new labs will make it easier to teach and learn about modern physics.
According to Merrill, the measuring of constants, such as gravity with a Cavendish apparatus, also provides "a better idea about physics in general. It seems a lot more fun and engaging."
While his work for the Physics Department has kept Merrill busy in recent weeks, he also has spent some time away from the laboratories. Even then, he's found another labor-intensive project to keep him busy.
"I've just been hanging out with my friends and replacing the clutch on my car," Merrill said. "I've had to tear apart the transaxle, have some of the parts re-machined ... and then put it all back together."
Once his work and other summer projects are completed, it won't be long before Merrill is back in the Willamette pool preparing with his teammates for the 2016-17 season. He's been swimming since he was a freshman in high school following one year of water polo in the eighth grade.
It was running, however, that helped Merrill become a distance swimmer.
"In middle school I got really good at running and that's when I developed my endurance," he noted. "I did it (distance swimming) just because someone had to do it (in high school), but it's kind of fun. Sometimes it's a love-hate relationship."
Merrill continued to compete in water polo and cross country in high school. As a swimmer, Merrill likes to pass opponents near the finish.
"When you're racing against somebody and you're able to move past them at the finish, it's just really great," he said.
Merrill has reached the consolation finals at the NWC Championships five times, including three times in the 1,650-yard freestyle and twice in the 500-yard freestyle. He won the consolation final in the 1,650 in 2014 to place ninth overall.
Now, he's about to start his senior season with the Bearcats.
"I'm hoping that I'll be able to get along with the incoming athletes as well as I get along with the juniors and seniors and sophomores," Merrill said. "All of the returning swimmers ... we're really close. Division III sports is not so much about winning ... it's about the sport itself."
NOTE: Summer in Salem is a series of articles about Willamette University student-athletes who are staying in Salem or nearby communities this summer.