United States

AAPT SM 20

Successes and Challenges in Distance Learning Mechanics Labs

undergraduate physics labs

distance learning

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

Disentangling student understanding of apparent motions of Sun and stars.

Analogy models in introductory electricity lessons in Austria and Germany

Particle Interactions simplified with a Tripreon model for students.

Guided Problem Solving: Active Learning While Working through Example Problems

How Force Notation Affects the Way Students Say It

Simple epidemiological models are introduced using finite difference methods in Excel. The SIR model explains the initial exponential growth of COVID-19, the effects of social distancing in the US during early April 2020 and successfully predicts the continued spread of the virus during late April and May 2020. The SIR model is the origin of the basic reproduction number R0 and herd immunity. It also predicts what will happen if social distancing is lifted prematurely. A wide range of student research projects are possible for modeling and making predictions based on real data for US states and other countries. See http://circle4.com/biophysics for free sample chapters and videos.

Understanding COVID-19 by modeling it

Radiology practitioners are examined on the underlying radiological physics principles of Photoelectric Absorption and Compton Scatter. Students must understand how these interactions in the patient vary as the x-ray tube acquisition parameters are adjusted. This variation changes the relative tissue contrasts in the radiograph and the detrimental radiation dose to the patient. An interactive Mathematica (1) simulation has been developed which simultaneously shows relative interaction probabilities, patient dose & penetration, and an anthropomorphic chest image. By adjusting the parameters the student can determine an optimal acquisition which minimises patient dose whilst generating sufficient contrast for lesion detection on the radiograph. The simulation instructions lead the student through a series of acquisitions which enable MCQ & SAQ assessments, which have demonstrated enhanced and accelerated comprehension. 1. Mathematica, Wolfram Research Inc., Champain, IL (1989-2020).

Radiological Physics simulation of Radiographic image acquisition.

Simulating a Pandemic

Hands-on General Relativity Activities for Introductory Astronomy

A Novel Method of Measuring Airplane Thrust

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Successes and Challenges in Distance Learning Mechanics Labs

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