Physics and Kinematics - Course Description
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Through observation, experimentation, measurement, thought experiment, and calculation, students study motion in a historical context, making observations and asking questions as they were first asked by scientists of the period in history known as the Age of Reason. Copernicus, Kepler, Brahe, Galileo and Newton will figure prominently into students’ study, as the class repeats some of the key experiments they themselves performed, and experiences the evidence they experienced. We will read portions of Galileo's Dialogue Concerning Two New Sciences. At the same time, we will be taking detailed data for air rockets in flight and balls rolling down inclines. We will use these experiment to derive the equation of motion given constant acceleration. At the end of the course, the participatory and curious student will have an understanding of the rules (Laws) which govern motion of planets, stars, galaxies, as well as satellites, baseballs and leaves (in the absence of air resistance!). Concepts that figure centrally are average and instantaneous velocity, acceleration and displacement. This will allow the students to predict the motion of an object, given the object’s initial conditions.
Faculty: Brian Gleichauf, High School Science Teacher
Class Dates: January 28th-February 15th, 213
Curriculum Area: Morning Lesson Block
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