Physics! Blog!
teaching
Updated Advice from Former Physics Students
One of my favorite pages that comes included in the new (delicious) binders I hand to students on the first day of school is the Advice from Past Students handout. Everything included on the page is actual advice from actual former students (contributed through course evaluations). For the 2013 crew, I’ve changed the layout to … Continue reading
May Course Evaluations: What did you learn in physics class this year?
Next up on the May course evaluation tour: The most important things about this year’s physics classes. These responses are always some of my favorite to read. I’m also including the answers to the question “What are you most proud of with respect to your work in physics class this year?” These responses are typically … Continue reading
Class Marker Buckets
We (the physics pholks) used to have a big tub of whiteboard markers that stayed in the classroom all the time. We would sometimes come in to find that students had written all over the board the night before (during study hall—boarding school), but the real problem was that very few students felt any obligation … Continue reading
LinReg for physics class data graphing
What is LinReg and how can I get it? Note: This is not meant to be an advertisement. I was in no way solicited by, nor am I affiliated with, the creator of the program. This is a recommendation and love letter about a tool that has made a huge difference in my classes this … Continue reading
“This is a boss equation.”
We’ve been pushing graphical methods to solve problems (see: Vector Addition Diagrams, IFF Charts, LOL diagrams, etc) like nobody’s business. So even just a few units into the year, these physics kids may be graphical problem-solving wizards, but a lot of them still hunger for equations in an insatiable sort of way. Even though we … Continue reading
Why do we need both momentum and energy?
Since seeing Brian’s post about asking students this question, I’ve been thinking about how my students might answer. In one section of Honors Physics, we’re just wrapping up a second look at momentum and energy transfer (mainly using problems that involve a transition between using both in the same analysis). My Honors kids have written … Continue reading
Building the Projectile Motion Particle Model
Note: This post details my version of the paradigm activity for what is Unit 6 (2-D Particle Models) of the Modeling Instruction Mechanics curriculum. My introduction to this unit varies from the official materials, and my classes build this as their sixth model (after building models for motion, forces, and momentum transfer). Due to differences in math comfort and … Continue reading
Force Vector Addition Diagrams (or, Components No More!)
The graphical solution bug has really gotten me this year (and in the best possible way). I’ve apparently done such a good job of pushing the graphical solutions that one of my classes stopped me in my tracks while I was showing them how to solve force problems by breaking the forces into components and … Continue reading
Energy Bar Charts (LOL Diagrams)
“LOL diagrams are my life.” —Honors Physics student from 2010 I have to admit, first of all, that I wasn’t expecting to love energy bar charts (when I first heard about them at a Modeling Instruction workshop). I didn’t originally learn to solve energy problems that way, and when I first saw them, I thought … Continue reading
Common Types of Energy (ETM Cheat Sheet)
After starting to build the Energy Transfer Model (ETM), we have the beginnings of an idea about change in energy. In order to start playing around with energy transfer, we need a common vocabulary. The front of the packet gives students a place to write down the information. It is handy to use as a … Continue reading
