61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Justin Raymond Pelzer

ILLINOIS
Justin Raymond Pelzer, 18, of Evanston, studied the influence of water jet structure on the natural phenomenon of hydraulic jump for his Intel Science Talent Search project in physics. Understanding the properties of hydraulic jump leads to a greater understanding of fluid dynamics, important in industry and astrophysics. Hydraulic jump happens when a jet of water hits a horizontal surface and spreads out at a rapid rate. It then comes to an abrupt halt where the water curls back on itself, causing its depth to increase, or jump, and the rate of spreading to slow. Hydraulic jumps occur where rivers flow into the ocean and must be taken into consideration in river restoration. Understanding jump also leads to a better understanding of tidal bores, which relate to shock waves in the atmosphere of a pulsating star. Both cases involve a velocity discontinuity. Although Justin lives near a university and could have used labs there, he preferred to design and build his own apparatus for measuring jump. Justin has perfect ACTs in English and math and is on the math team at Evanston Township High School. The son of David Pelzer and Kathleen Henson, he plans to study physics at Stanford.