On 30 September, 2014 we, the students of class 10 were given the rare opportunity to visit the National Physics Laboratory. It was Annual Open Day at the NPL. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the premier measurement-standards' laboratory of our country. It maintains standards of SI units in India and calibrates the national standards of weights and measures. NPL is also involved in research.
We visited many labs within NPL. First, we went to the Heteroepitaxy lab which studies surface physics and nanostructure. There was the Multi-probe Surface Analysis System which is used to study the surface of any kind of material.
Then we visited the Pulsed Layer Decomposition Lab also known as PLD lab in which a thin film-growth technique was used to make thin films. We saw liquid nitrogen which is used in chemical research and its temperature is "-196 degree Celsius" or "77 kelvin". Then we went to the Apex Level Standards' and Industrial Meteorology Department which had a display of machines like Hardness Standardizing Machines which are used in industries to measure the force and hardness of substances. This department also had a machine which measures torque. There was also a Division of Physics of Energy Harvesting where amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells are made and studied.
There was also a separate centre for Nanostructure and Technology. Here, thermo- electrical materials are studied. It also had a device called a thermo- electrical device.
The visit was an extremely enriching experience and helped us see first-hand the cutting-edge scientific work in a premier national lab. We were yet again motivated to think beyond our NCERT textbook!
By ANOUSHKA GUPTA, X C.
In the Press
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