Student wins Monash physics photo competition

The winning picture taken by student Chua Ang Tze.

Photography was never an interest for university student Chua Ang Tze, but a chance look at a posting on a physics photo competition in the Star newspaper’s education section has made him richer in cash and knowledge of physics.

Chua said the competition, which was organised by the Monash University Malaysia School of Engineering last year in conjunction with World Year of Physics in 2005, helped him gain a better understanding of the physics behind photography, especially the concept of ray optics.

He used a camera belonging to his parents to take a picture of flowers in their garden using several droplets of water as double convex lenses. The four water droplets, made by morning dew, were suspended from the stem of a plant. The result won him the first prize in the competition, which was open to upper secondary students.

“It was tough to take the pictures as there were other conditions like lighting to take into account. It took four or five days to get the right picture,” said Chua who is currently an engineering undergraduate at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

“The competition was aimed at increasing students’ interest in physics and allowing them to see

Chua receiving his prize from Professor Prince (centre). At right is Associate Professor Lan

 how physics is applied in everyday life,” said School of Engineering lecturer Associate Professor Lan Boon Leong.

Chua received the prize of RM1,200 and books worth RM300 from Monash University Malaysia

 School of Engineering head Professor Ian Prince. Books worth RM500 will also be presented to Chua’s secondary school, the Victoria Institution.

Chua said he planned to share half the prize money with his parents – for them to purchase a newer camera – and keep the remainder.