CSSF Project Listings: 2015
Physics & Astronomy

Senior Division

S1701

Parker G. Addison, Grade 10
The Effect of Gases on the Efficiency of a Solar Cell
Advisor: Mr. Todd Samet
School: Redwood High School, Larkspur, Marin County

S1702

Manfred Virgil T. Ambat, Grade 12
The Nature of Variability of the Ultraviolet and Optical Spectral Energy Distribution of Active Galactic Nuclei
Advisor: Dr. Martin Gaskell
School: Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, Santa Clara County

S1703

Sophia A. Brodish, Grade 9
Testing Meteorite Impact Distances on Triton
Advisor: Ms. Kendia Herrington
School: Buchanan (Floyd B.) High School, Clovis, Fresno County

S1704

Sophia G. Clark, Grade 10
Just Can't Resist!
Advisor: Mr. Julien Astruc
School: French American International School, San Francisco, San Francisco County

S1705

Catherine M. Colella, Grade 9
Spacecraft, Micrometeoroids, and Photons: A Model of Micrometeoroid Impingement to Simulate Thermal Shielding
Advisor: Ms. Beth Dixon
School: Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, Rocklin, Placer County

S1706

Clement J. Decker, Grade 9
Comparing Quantum and Classical Explanations for the Non-Interference of Orthogonally Polarized Beams
Advisor: Miss Molly Boles
School: St. Monica Academy, Pasadena, Los Angeles County

S1707 — First Place

Shashank Dholakia, Grade 10
Shishir Dholakia, Grade 10
A Search for Exoplanets in Open Star Clusters Using a Novel Photometric Algorithm for the "Crippled" Kepler Mission
Advisor: Mr. Cory Dobos
School: Wilcox (Adrian C.) High School, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County

S1708

Eleni C. Fafoutis, Grade 9
Predicting and Analyzing Coronal Mass Ejections
Advisor: Dr. Kim Cozean
School: Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange County

S1709

Elizabeth Fletes, Grade 10
Alex Herrera, Grade 10
Armeen Mobasher, Grade 10
Observational Study of Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei
Advisor: Dr. Bahram Mobasher
School: Riverside STEM Academy, Riverside, Riverside County

S1710 — Honorable Mention

Raymond U. Gilmartin, Grade 11
Characterization of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for Next-Generation Energy-Efficient Memory Technologies
Advisor: Mr. Xiang Li
School: South Pasadena High School, South Pasadena, Los Angeles County

S1711 — Second Place

Kyle A. Groves, Grade 12
Advanced Warning for Solar Flares: Utilizing Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances to Detect and Measure Solar Flares
Advisor: Mr. Philip Deutschle
School: Salinas High School, Salinas, Monterey County

S1712 — Honorable Mention

Matthew M. Hase-Liu, Grade 10
A Novel Study on the Improvement of Electronic Transport Characteristics in a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell
Advisor: Mr. Jason Lee
School: Lynbrook High School, San Jose, Santa Clara County

S1713

Chia-Yun Hu, Grade 10
Guan Xiao Yang, Grade 11
Would Sound Waves Promote the Freezing of Water?
Advisor: Ms. Heng Yuan Shr
School: Developing Virtue School, Ukiah, Mendocino County

S1714

Amely Joly, Grade 11
Detecting Diabetes by Polarizing Light
Advisor: Mr. Julien Astruc
School: French American International School, San Francisco, San Francisco County

S1715

Taniel V. Keosseian, Grade 10
Make Home Cellphone Spectrophotometer to Apply Beer's Law
Advisor: Ms. Jacqueline Mishler
School: Pilibos (Alex) Armenian School, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County

S1716

Melissa M. Lee, Grade 11
Alisha S. Malkani, Grade 11
Biomechanical Analysis of Throwing Discus
Advisor: Mr. David Knight
School: University High School, Irvine, Orange County

S1717

James A. Lu, Grade 10
The Effect of Magnification Ability of a Telescope on Position Angle and Average Separation of Double Stars
Advisor: Mr. Michael Antrim
School: Woodbridge High School, Irvine, Orange County

S1718 — Honorable Mention

Sydney L. Marler, Grade 9
The Effects of Interstellar Medium on the X-Ray Spectral Characteristics of Gamma Ray Bursts
Advisor: Mr. Chris Ostermann
School: Burroughs (Sherman E.) High School, Ridgecrest, Kern County

S1719

Cali M. Mendoza, Grade 12
Maxence Weyrich, Grade 12
Solar and Cosmic Radiation at and above the Pfotzer Maximum
Advisor: Mr. James Snyder
School: Anderson Valley Junior/Senior High School, Boonville, Mendocino County

S1720 — Third Place

Anchit Narain, Grade 11
Topological Insulators: An Analysis of the Electron-Phonon Coupling Constant of Bi(2)Se(3) Using ARPES Data
Advisor: Dr. Gey-Hong Gweon
School: Clovis North High School, Fresno, Fresno County

S1721

Akshar G. Patel, Grade 11
Recycled Light: An Attempt to Create a Solar Light Bulb That Can Be Used with the Absence of Constant Radiation
Advisor: Mrs. Chirichan Tasanont
School: Chino Hills High School, Chino Hills, San Bernardino County

S1722

Filip Platek, Grade 10
Do Greenhouse Gases Really Trap Heat?
Advisor: Mr. Todd Samet
School: Redwood High School, Larkspur, Marin County

S1723

Saranesh Prembabu, Grade 12
Coupled Electric and Magnetic Properties in Artificially-Layered Perovskite Thin Films
Advisor: Dr. Matthew Dawber
School: Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, Contra Costa County

S1724 — Fourth Place

Julienne Sauer, Grade 10
Quantum Locking Aircraft: Towards the Development of Magnetically Assisted Landing and Take-off Systems via Flux Pinning
Advisor: Ms. Annie Nguyen
School: Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, Contra Costa County

S1725

Samantha P. Sze, Grade 12
Would Elevation Affect the Performance of Objects with Different Masses on a Straight Slope and an Angled Curved Slope?
Advisor: Mrs. Camerina Olano
School: Pinole Valley High School, Pinole, Contra Costa County

S1726 — Honorable Mention

Ethan M. Uetrecht, Grade 10
Assessing the Practicality of Asteroid Deflection Strategies Using Simulation
Advisor: Mr. Peter Starodub
School: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County

S1727 — Honorable Mention

Zoe Zawol, Grade 9
The Effect of Strong Magnetic Fields Caused by Broadcast Antennas on the Local Cosmic Ray Flux
Advisor: Ms. Mary Hines
School: Pasadena High School, Pasadena, Los Angeles County