Re: Computers in the lab. /diatribe/

[Brian McInnes <bmcinnes@PNC.COM.AU>]

>

>         You raise an interesting question: how do you know when you are
> successful in getting students to " 'see' the motion represented by
> distance and velocity graphs"?
>         I agree with your objection to bad metaphors, by the way.
>                                 Regards,
>                                         Jack

One way is to get the students to describe the motion of the object
whose motion is represented by the graph.  Get them to put a finger on
the desk (or table) and trace out what they believe is happening.

In Vol II of their text "Physics by Inquiry" Lillian McDermott and her
Group suggest using a ball and tracks and asking students to set up
arrangements of tracks that will produce motions represented on graphs
(page 688 - 692).  I have used the text and the materials with
success.

Brian McInnes