General Information |
THE PHYSICS SUPERMARKET |
The aim of the experiments is to provide physics students with material that integrates the theory and the practice of the subject to an unprecedented degree. As students work through the experiments, the need to define new terms arises, relationships between physical quantities are discovered and theories are developed. At every opportunity, students evaluate the agreement between experimental results and values predicted by new theory.
Throughout the experiments, students observe, measure, hypothesize, explain, deduce, generalize, predict outcomes, conclude, suggest changes to apparatus, and discover mathematical relationships. Questions posed are of varying degree of difficulty to cater for individual differences. While working through the exercises, students learn about physics by doing physics and being physicists.
Physics has long suffered the label of 'not working'. A 'hands on' approach to learning combined with limited budgets resulted in poor quality apparatus being put in the hands of the student. Poor results turn students away from the subject. The ticker timer is a good example. A novel apparatus to the 1960's generation, it is not relevant to contemporary students. These experiments can be expected to work and stimulate a student's interest and enthusiasm for the subject. The modern trend is to log data using sensors, an interface and a PC. You will find many experiments in the Catalogue that use this method of measurement. The 'classic' experiments that increase the knowledge and skills of students are also included.
Recent publications provide a wealth of factual information. However, this has been at the expense of the development of the logical arguments behind the relevant principles and concepts. These experiments aim at returning this aspect to the subject. The 'power of the logic' can be felt when following the processes students are taken through while performing the experiments. Teaching strategies are built in to aid the inexperienced teacher.
With one teacher and many students, it is difficult to interact personally with each student in every lesson. To create more teacher/student interaction, the book has been written as if the teacher is talking to the student. Pronouns have been included to add the human element to the process of learning and emphasise the student's ownership of the work.
There are more experiments than a student can perform in two years. Many can be used as the lesson plan for the teacher. Watching the physics teacher do practical physics helps the development of the physics student.
The files are Word for Office 2000 documents designed to be printed on a 600 dpi laser printer. Two paper sizes are available, Letter or A4. They are available as photocopiable masters for use in the institution supplied with the files. You may alter files to suit your personal needs but you may not re-sell the new versions. There is a nominal charge for each file to help pay for the cost of the Web Site and the time spent producing the files. Small numbers of files will be emailed, the complete set of experiments is available on CD which will be posted.
The samples show you the style of presentation of the experiments available and the way that theory and experiment are combined. Files tagged A4 are for 210 x 297mm A4 paper. Files tagged L are for 8 1/2 x 11" Letter sized paper. You can download these files plus the files from which coloured overhead transparencies can be printed of completed diagrams from selected experiments. A photoquality inkjet printer will produce professional looking overheads.
A brief description of each experiment is available on this Web Site plus a list of the equipment required. Where relevant, a diagram and/or a photograph is included to provide more information.
At the top of each page of the Catalogue, the experiments available are listed down the page in the order of sequential development of the topic.
If you have any questions, send an email to hsphys@optusnet.com.au or to have a live discussion, go to www.aol.com, install AOL Instant Messenger, add Lord Luskn to your buddy list (note the spelling) and catch me when I am on line.
Bruce Saunders