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Thornton Academy graduate Mateo Patino will soon add an impressive item to his resume - published researcher.
Patino and Thornton teacher Clint Nash (pictured above) coauthored a scientific paper that will be published in an upcoming edition of The Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics and Astronomy (JURPA), a peer-reviewed publication of the American Institute of Physics and the Society of Physics Students.
In their paper, “Jerk, Acceleration, and Speed on Inclined Surfaces,” they derive the mathematical formula that describes a curve which has the property that an object sliding on it will experience a constant jerk. Jerk is an actual physics term that describes changes in an object’s acceleration. In other words, while a ball rolling down a constant slope exhibits a constant rate of acceleration, a ball rolling down a variable slope will experience a change in the rate of acceleration.
“This type of motion is relevant in mechanical systems and robotics, and has applications in designing roller coasters and transportation systems where g-forces are a consideration,” says Patino.
The paper was submitted for review in October of 2024. The peer review process, which included two revisions, took more than six months. It was accepted for publication in late May.
