New Physics Front collection resources

Resource Letter RPS-1: Research in problem solving

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST

This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on research in problem solving, especially in physics. The references were compiled with two audiences in mind: physicists who are (or might become) engaged in research on problem solving, and physics instructors who are interested in using research results to improve their students' learning of problem solving. In addition to general references, journal articles and books are cited for the following topics: cognitive aspects of problem solving, expert-novice problem-solver characteristics, problem solving in mathematics, alternative problem types, curricular interventions, and the use of computers in problem solving.

CASES Online: A Tale of Two Charges

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:07:21 EST

This item is a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) activity for high school physics that presents the task of writing a 21st Century encyclopedia article about Coulomb's Law. The article must be scientifically accurate and provide links to digital media that illustrate the concept (animations, simulations, computer models). Teacher-generated ideas are kept to a minimum, challenging students to locate, analyze, and evaluate resources themselves. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to the student materials that accompany this lesson plan (includes scene script and rubric for problem solving). CASES Online is a growing collection of inquiry-based lessons developed to explore the science behind real-world problems. More than 200 cases are available, covering all strands of the sciences. The cases are grounded in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Investigative Case-Based Learning (ICBL) pedagogy.

Newton's Law of Cooling Model

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:26:16 EST

This interactive simulation is designed to help students visualize heat transfer and build a foundation to understand specific heat and thermal properties of matter. As an object of uniform temperature is heated by a flame and cooled by the surrounding medium, the model computes the temperature as a function of time. Students can choose from three materials: copper, aluminum, or iron. They can also select values for mass and volume of the object. This lumped system approximation is valid if the rate of thermal energy transfer within the object is faster than the rate of thermal energy transfer at the surface. Editor's Note: See Annotations for content support on the topics of heat, temperature, and specific heat capacity. This simulation was developed to supplement an article by William Dittrich, "Measuring the specific heat of metals by cooling", which has been accepted for publication in The Physics Teacher (TPT). This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

ASPIRE: Lunar Phases

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:04:45 EST

This interactive tutorial features an inquiry-based approach to promote understanding of moon phases. Part of the Astrophysics Science Project Integrating Research and Education (ASPIRE), the tutorial opens with a diagram of the Earth-Moon system. The user "spins" the Earth, then determines which sections of Earth and Moon are receiving sunlight. In Part 2, users investigate how sunlight reflecting off the Earth is related to moon phases. The animation divides Earth into 8 sections and places the direction of incoming sunlight. Using only the images in the diagram, students must correctly label the moon phases. Part 3 puts everything together as Moon orbits around Earth. Editor's Note: In the spirit of true inquiry, students will require time to explore this simulation. Expect younger students to have some confusion about the waxing and waning nature of moon phase changes. Older students will get it more quickly, but still need time to process how lunar phases depend upon the observer's position and reflection of sunlight. This struggle is necessary, but should produce some "aha" moments. This resource is part of ASPIRE, an interactive lab project designed to be visually attractive and fun, yet mentally challenging for students in grades 6-9. Materials include complete lesson plans authored collaboratively by teachers and research scientists. See Related Materials for a link to the full collection.

EJS Simulations by High School Physics Teachers

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:41:15 EST

This web page features a collection of Easy Java Simulations developed by secondary teachers for use in high school physics and physical science courses. Topics include astronomy, momentum and collision, projectile motion, Gauss's Law and electric field, special relativity, and more. Each simulation is accompanied by a standards-based lesson plan and printable student guides. Users may run the simulations as a Java applet or may directly download a jar file version. The materials in this collection were created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool. This resource is part of Project ITOP (Improving the Teaching of Physics), a graduate program offered at University of Massachusetts-Boston. The archived computer models are hosted and maintained as part of the BU Physics Simulation collection.

Phases of Moon Model

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:21:26 EST

This interactive simulation allows students to explore how the relative position of Sun, Earth, and Moon produce the various phases of the moon, as seen from the Earth. The main window displays Earth (at the center) and Moon, with a circle tracing out Moon's orbit. Sun is far to the right in this picture and therefore the right side of Earth and Moon are bright while the left sides are dark. As the simulation runs, a separate "Moon View" window shows progressive photos of the appearance of the Moon as seen from Earth. Editor's Note: Don't miss the supplementary lesson plan, student guide, and homework problems. The author has cohesively integrated a hands-on investigation with the simulation. Together, these resources will promote understanding of a process that is often difficult for adolescents to grasp. SEE SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS below for links. This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

Pendulum Energy Model

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:36:47 EST

This is a standards-based simulation for grade level 6-9, developed to help students visualize how total energy is conserved in a simple pendulum. It depicts a child swinging on a swing suspended from a stationary point. Students can drag the swing to different heights, then activate the motion. As the swing moves in periodic motion, energy bar graphs are simultaneously displayed that show changing levels of kinetic and potential energy. The simulation is accompanied by a lesson plan and printable student activity guide. Editor's Note: To keep the activity simple enough for middle school, air resistance is ignored in this simulation. Teachers should be prepared for students to ask why the swing isn't slowing down. See Annotations for content support on the topic of energy transformation for a pendulum. This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

Two Particle Elastic Collision Model

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:25:42 EST

This interactive simulation allows students to explore two-dimensional elastic collision between hard disks in an isolated system. The user can modify the mass, position and velocity of each disk using the sliders. Both disks are draggable, allowing students to set up one-dimensional and two-dimensional collisions. A checkbox option will pause the simulation at the moment of collision, and then display arrows showing the momenta of each disk immediately before AND after the collision. Red arrows depict the change in momentum resulting from the collision. The instructions explain how to set up equations to calculate both the total energy and total momentum of the system after the collision. See related materials for a link to a simpler Easy Java Simulation that models only one-dimensional collision. See Annotations for an editor-recommended tutorial on momentum and its conservation. This resource is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. In order to modify the simulation (and see how it is designed), users must install the Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to install the EJS modeling tool.

One Dimensional Collision Model

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:25:52 EST

This interactive simulation allows students to collide two objects and investigate whether momentum and/or kinetic energy are conserved in the collision process. To keep things simple, the simulation involves an isolated system where the objects collide along a single line. Use the sliders to set mass of both objects, initial velocity, and elasticity: then watch the resulting collision. Students then calculate post-collision values for momentum and kinetic energy for both balls. SEE ANNOTATIONS for a link to an editor-recommended online tutorial on conservation of momentum, part of The Physics Classroom collection. Editor's Note: Lots of factors are at play, even in a simple collision. This resource will help your students build understanding the of following: 1) How to apply the law of momentum conservation, 2) Total energy in a closed system (it's always conserved, but in collisions, kinetic energy is generally transformed into other forms of energy), 3) In special cases (perfectly elastic collisions) the kinetic energy stays the same before and after a collision, 4) In completely inelastic collisions, objects stick together, 5) momentum is a vector. This resource is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. In order to modify the simulation (and see how it is designed), users must install the Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to install the EJS modeling tool.

Ejs Intro SpringLab Model

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:35:23 EST

This inquiry-based resource asks students to develop a computer model for a mass on a spring. Designed specifically for students with no prior experience in computer modeling, the lesson opens with a hands-on lab where students investigate spring-and-mass systems, record data, and analyze results. Afterward, they use the Intro SpringLab computer modeling tool to build their own model of a mass on a spring. Finally, they compare the results of their computer models with the real-life results obtained in the lab. Editor's Note: The Easy Java Simulation tool greatly reduces the amount of programming required to develop computer models. Exercises in student-generated modeling are becoming much more widespread in physics education because of the opportunities for students to test and apply their own prototypes to explain and predict physical phenomena. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool, which students will need to develop their models. This resource also includes a detailed instructor's guide, instructor's notes with solutions, laboratory exercises, and tips for constructing the models.

Two Dimensional Air Drop Model

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:32:19 EST

This interactive simulation shows an airplane flying at constant horizontal velocity preparing to drop relief supplies to a small island. As captain of the plane, the student must first calculate the release point for dropping the package. As the simulation runs, press the red "+" button at the correct moment to test your answer. The trajectory of the falling package is traced onscreen. If your calculations were too far off, the package will drop in the ocean. The motion can be viewed from the perspective of a person standing on the island or an airplane flying nearby. Extend the learning by activating air friction to see how this variable affects the motion of the projectile. Editor's Note: Students may insist that there is a horizontal force acting upon the package since it has a horizontal motion. See Annotation (below) for an editor-recommended tutorial that will explain what is happening (the horizontal motion of the package results from its inertia). This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

Ejs Free Fall Cartesian Model

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:29:37 EST

This interactive model displays the dynamics of a ball dropped near the surface of Earth onto a table top. The model was designed to extend the free fall concept to include motion in the horizontal direction, allowing students to explore the impulsive normal force that reverses the ball's velocity upon collision with the table. Initial conditions for the ball are an initial positive velocity in the x direction and zero initial velocity in the y direction. The coefficient of restitution for the ball’s collision with the platform is less than one. Editor's Note: The motion of a bouncing ball provides an excellent way to integrate concepts of Law of Conservation of Energy, impulse and momentum, and motion in two dimensions. We recommend introducing this computer modeling activity after students have explored bouncing balls in hands-on activities. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for links to recommended companion resources. This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

The Educator's Reference Desk: Alarm Circuit Lab

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:56:39 EST

This web page features a two-hour lab for high school physics in which students construct a functional alarm circuit. It gives detailed instructions on how to build the device from scratch, using a clothespin as a sensor switch. Most of the parts are available from hardware stores or may be purchased as a kit (link provided in the lesson plan). Diagrams will help students see how to construct the circuit box and place wire terminals correctly. This lesson was developed by a veteran high school physics teacher. Editor's Note: Though the lab is not inquiry-based, it provides the opportunity for students to become immersed in creating a product they can use in real life: a working alarm to secure a laptop or other personal object. It provides teachers the opportunity for a performance-based assessment. This lesson is part of the Educator's Reference Desi collection, maintained by the Information Institute of Syracuse. All lessons must meet specific selection criteria that reflects best practice methodologies.

PBS: Tesla Teaching Resources - Converting Electrical Energy into Mechanical Energy

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:11:31 EST

This is a standards-based lab for grades 9-12 that explores how energy is converted in a simple electromagnet, using materials that are readily available at hardware stores. The electromagnet is constructed by wrapping a 4-inch nail with copper magnet wire. The experiment was designed to give students a basis for understanding how an AC source produces currents that flow in one direction and then the other. The lesson includes illustrated instructions for teachers and ideas for assessment. This web page is part of the PBS Online resource collection on the life of Nikola Tesla. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to a closely related lesson on converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.

PBS: Tesla Teaching Resources - Converting Mechanical Energy into Electrical Energy

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:05:44 EST

This is a standards-based lab for grades 6-9 on energy transformation. Students will be building a very simple AC generator using a compass, a strong magnet, and insulated copper magnet wire. The lesson includes illustrated instructions for teachers and ideas for assessment. Editor's Note: This lesson can be easily adapted for introductory high school physics by combining it with a more advanced lesson by the same authors. See Related Materials for a link to the related lesson. This web page is part of the PBS Online resource collection on the life of Nikola Tesla.

PBS: Tesla - Master of Lightning

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:55:35 EST

This web site explores the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla, an important contributor to the field of electromagnetism. Although the significance of his work is often minimized, Tesla's work formed the basis of modern alternating current power systems and wireless transmission of energy. He was the first to receive a patent for the invention of the radio, though Marconi is more often given credit for the discovery. The web site includes interactive explorations of Tesla's key inventions and lesson plans for grades 6-12 on electric potential and conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy. Users will also find selected articles on Tesla, timelines of electricity and radio, and a link to view selected Tesla patents.

CASES Online: Lights Out! - A Circuit Activity

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:48:26 EST

This item is Problem-Based Learning (PBL) activity for high school physics that asks learners to construct a flashlight using only broken and salvaged parts. In the opening scenario, a group of students are lost in a fully dark cave. One flashlight breaks in a fall and the battery dies in the other. Students have a time limit to figure out how to make the circuit work with only "salvage" items provided for the lesson. SEE RELATED MATERIALS for a link to the student materials that accompany this lesson plan (includes scene script and grading rubric). CASES Online is a growing collection of inquiry-based lessons developed to explore the science behind real-world problems. More than 200 cases are available, covering all strands of the sciences. The cases are grounded in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Investigative Case-Based Learning (ICBL) pedagogy. Editor's Note: We recommend registration with CASES Online, which is free, as it allows access to the sizable database. Use this link to register: Cases Online Registration Page (Emory University)

The Physics Classroom: Ohm's Law

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:11:03 EST

This interactive tutorial on Ohm's Law, part of The Physics Classroom tutorial collection, provides a thorough conceptual foundation for understanding one of the most powerful formulas in physics. Multiple circuit diagrams and tables illustrate the relationships among voltage, current before users explore the mathematics. The author includes two quizzes for users to gauge their own understanding and perform simple calculations related to resistance. This page is part of The Physics Classroom, a comprehensive set of interactive tutorials, labs, and simulations for students of introductory physics. The Physics Classroom is one of the ComPADRE digital library collections.

The Physics Classroom: Electrical Resistance

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:59:54 EST

This is an interactive tutorial for introductory physics on resistance and Ohm's Law. It explores the journey of an electron through the wires of an electric circuit, explaining how countless collisions between the charge carriers and atoms within the wires result in loss of electrical energy. In the second part of the tutorial, students learn about factors affecting resistance, resistivity values, and how to calculate resistance mathematically. This page is part of The Physics Classroom, a comprehensive set of interactive tutorials, labs, and simulations for students of introductory physics. The Physics Classroom is one of the ComPADRE digital library collections.

The Physics Classroom: Electric Current

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:39:45 EST

This is an interactive tutorial for high school physics on electric current and the requirements of an electric circuit. From a conceptual standpoint, it explores the nature of charge flow and the function of the charge carriers. From the mathematical standpoint, it explains current as a rate quantity and provides simple exercises to calculate the flow of current. This page is part of The Physics Classroom, a comprehensive set of interactive tutorials, labs, and simulations for students of introductory physics. The Physics Classroom is one of the ComPADRE digital library collections.