United States

I used the thread of saving the Earth from a collision with an asteroid to introduce several concepts in mechanics. Through successive approximations to the situation, students analyze situations involving constant velocity, conservation of momentum, constant acceleration, and kinetic energy as they try to determine how best to deflect the asteroid. The tools used include computer programming with the motivation of performing computations iteratively to determine closest approach

AAPT SM 20

Save the Earth: A Mechanics Thread That Introduces Computation

introductory mechanics computation

The 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting brought together physics educators from around the globe to learn about the latest in physics theory, research methodology and education from leaders in their field. The program featured plenary speakers, sessions, workshops and many special activities.

For more information please visit the 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting page at: https://www.aapt.org/Conferences/SM2020/index.cfm.


The 2020 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting brought together physics educators from around the globe to learn about the latest in physics theory, research methodology and education from leaders in their field. 

poster

Distance distance estimates in pulsating RR Lyrae Star DM And

Combining Existing Technology & Resources For Stronger Outreach In Todays World

Click and drag digital worksheets were created on which students can click and drag vectors, lines, text boxes, and symbols to create motion, force, and torque diagrams, as well as analyze graphs for biomechanics scenarios. These were made for use by student groups during an online synchronous introductory physics for life science class, but could be used in a myriad of other ways.

Click and Drag Digital Worksheets for Online Biomechanics activities

Student Perceptions of Observation

Taking a Traditional Lecture Online - Lessons Learned

Exponentially damped oscillatory motion is often encountered early in a physics student's education. The closed form solution in the case of linear-in-velocity drag makes this an attractive first model, but realistic systems typically include constant- and/or quadratic-in-velocity drag. The equations of motion for non-linear drag can be solved numerically so that data can be fit using more accurate models. A data set is presented and analyzed which students can use to explore topics such as differing models of friction, numerical modeling techniques, and evaluating and quantifying the agreement between a model and data. Code and data are provided for physics instructors' use.

Premium content

Save the Earth: A Mechanics Thread That Introduces Computation

Next from AAPT SM 20

Distance distance estimates in pulsating RR Lyrae Star DM And

Similar lecture

Hungry Hungry Hamsters: Intro Physics Students Program a Game