physics

Lillian McDermott Medal

Lillian McDermott Medal is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Lillian McDermott Medal rather than just read about it. In short: The Lillian McDermott Medal, established in 2021, is awarded annually by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Named after Lillian Christie McDermott, the Medal "recognizes those who are passionate and tenacious about improving the teaching and learning of physics and have made intellectually creative contributions in this area".

Key takeaways

Lillian McDermott Medal belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Lillian McDermott Medal to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Lillian McDermott Medal from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Lillian McDermott Medal, established in 2021, is awarded annually by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Named after Lillian Christie McDermott, the Medal "recognizes those who are passionate and tenacious about improving the teaching and learning of physics and have made intellectually creative contributions in this area". The Robert A. Millikan award was the medal previously given by the AAPT to individuals who provide notable contributions to the teaching of physics. The award was established in 1962; the winner received a monetary award and certificate and delivered an address at an AAPT summer meeting. In the spring of 2021, the AAPT Board of Directors removed Millikan's name from the award.

Lillian McDermott Medal winners

Robert A. Millikan Medal winners

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Lillian McDermott Medal

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Lillian McDermott Medal claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Lillian McDermott Medal before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Lillian McDermott Medal ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Lillian McDermott Medal

In research: Lillian McDermott Medal appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Lillian McDermott Medal in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Lillian McDermott Medal is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1962 establishments in the United States, American Association of Physics Teachers, American awards, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Lillian McDermott Medal outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Lillian McDermott Medal in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Lillian McDermott Medal means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Lillian McDermott Medal out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lillian McDermott Medal in simple terms?

Why does Lillian McDermott Medal matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Lillian McDermott Medal?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Lillian McDermott Medal.