Doing Physics:develops
the Essential Knowledge & Skills of our Students!
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Inquiry/ Discovery/ Investigating Skills
Fine motor skills
Precision/ Error
Language skills
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Problem Solving/ Critical Thinking:
Observational skills & Language skills
Variable identification
Modeling skills (pictorial & mathematical)
Application of the Key Principles in Physics
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Historical Perspectives:
How math/ geometry showed us that the world is round
Caution: Looking at the world can change your belief system for how
the world works!
"How do we know?" questions:
How do we know that the world is round?
How do we know the design of the solar system?
How do we know that all atoms have electrons?
A look back in time: Physics' paradigm shifts in history (e.g., Ptolemy
and Copernicus)
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Variations over Time:
Time rate of change in position, speed, heat flow, charge flow, radioactive
decay
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Properties & Characteristics of the Natural World: Foundational
Principles in Physics
Changes in motion caused by forces
Laws of Motion
Fundamental forces in Nature
Conservation Laws
How We Do Physics with
our Students is Crucial
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Understand the Learning of Physics from the Students' Perspective.
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The student must do his or her own learning (i.e.
do his own physics).
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Connecting concepts with the Real World.
Example Classroom Springboards or Platforms for Doing
Physics:
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Playground Physics
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Kitchen Physics
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Space Physics
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Astronomy
Doing Physics: Motion
Defining Motion:
Changing position in time and space = velocity
Rate of motion (speed) & Direction of motion
or
Speed in each of Three Dimensions (3D)
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Constant Motion/ Uniform Motion
Speed does not change and direction does not change
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Changing Motion (Acceleration)
Speed could change
Or
Direction could change
Or
Both could change!
Acceleration Scenarios
Linear acceleration: Speed only changes
Car gaining speed on the highway
Bicycle braking at a stop sign
Galileo's Ramp (1:3:5:7)
Basketball & Tennis ball
Uniform Circular Motion: Speed doesn't change, Direction does change
Ball-on-a-String
Pail of Water
Parabolic Motion: Changing speed and direction! Motion that is the sum
of two motions!
Tossing a Ball
Waterfall
Tossing up a Ball inside a Car on the Highway
Doing Physics: Motion
What Causes Change in Motion?
Force (push or pull) causes Change in Motion
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Force is a quantitative measure of a push or pull.
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Force has a Magnitude and Direction
"Where is the Force?" (Demos/ Animations/ Images)
Other Motions:
Hot Wheels Track
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/mmedia/kinema/avd.html
Real Time Graphs of Position, Velocity and Acceleration
PASCO CI-6780A Middle School (Science Workshop) Bundle
http://www2.pasco.com/products/products.taf?System=Middle
School Science Bundle