Collaborative Investigation of Chaos, Exotic Atoms, and Electron Optics in the Advanced Physics Laboratory

高级物理实验室中混沌、奇异原子和电子光学的合作研究

• 批准号: 0126849
• 负责人: Martin Johnston
• 金额: $ 8.34万
• 依托单位: University of St. Thomas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-08-15 至 2005-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0126849&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Investigation; Chaos; Exotic; Atoms

Physics (13)In this project, the investigator is building an advanced physics lab course into an equipment-intensive course where students learn and develop hands-on skills in the areas of computer interfacing, modular instrumentation, and vacuum techniques while they learn to work collaboratively, as they would in a technical job environment.Recent physics education research has shown the success of the collaborative approach in teaching introductory physics. This project supports the full-scale implementation of teaching and learning advanced experimental techniques in a collaborative environment by adapting the ideas developed by P. Heller and M. Hollabaugh ("Teaching Problem Solving Through Cooperative Grouping. Part 2: Designing Problems and Structuring Groups," Am. J. Phys. 60, 637-644 [1992]) and applying them to an upper-division laboratory course. Specifically, "context-rich" problems are being developed and student groups are being managed to foster problem solving skills in the laboratory.The new advanced physics lab course is structured around three experimental problems: detecting mechanical chaos, measuring the lifetime of an exotic atom, and designing and characterizing a simple, low-energy electron gun. The experiments are adapted from F. Moon's book on chaos, _Chaotic and Fractal Dynamics_ (Wiley, 1992, pp. 451-456); M. Yuly's paper on positronium decay, "Positronium in the Undergraduate Laboratory," Am. J. Phys. 67, 880-884 (1999); and the discussion of vacuum techniques and electron optics in _Building Scientific Apparatus_, 2d edn., by J. Moore, C. Davis, and M. Coplan (Perseus Books, 1991, pp. 75-118 and 305-344). The problems were chosen because of the instrumentation they involve and the skills students can learn from them. By working on the same problem and discussing the experimental techniques presented in a closely coordinated lecture, students develop both individual skills and the ability to work in a group. The collaborative model has been tested with a mechanical chaos experiment, with excellent results, particularly in terms of increased student readiness for independent research projects.The project is being evaluated by students, both formatively over the course of the project and longitudinally as they progress in the major; by faculty, both internally and externally; and by presenting for review and comment a detailed instructor's manual, supporting Web site, and articles in journals such as the _American Journal of Physics_ and _The Physics Teacher_.

物理(13)在这个项目中，研究人员正在将一门高级物理实验室课程建设成一门设备密集型课程，在此课程中，学生学习和发展计算机接口、模块化仪器和真空技术领域的动手技能，同时学习协作工作，就像他们在技术工作环境中一样。最近的物理教育研究表明，协作方法在教授入门物理方面取得了成功。该项目通过采用P.Heller和M.HolLabaugh(《通过合作分组解决教学问题，第二部分：设计问题和组织小组》)的思想，支持在协作环境中全面实施先进的实验技术J.Phys.60,637-644[1992])，并将它们应用于高级实验室课程。具体地说，正在开发“背景丰富”的问题，并管理学生小组，以培养实验室解决问题的能力。新的高等物理实验室课程围绕三个实验问题构建：检测机械混沌，测量奇异原子的寿命，以及设计和表征一种简单的低能电子枪。这些实验改编自F·穆恩的书《混沌，混沌和分形动力学》(Wiley，1992，pp.451-456)；M.尤利关于正电子衰变的论文，《本科生实验室中的正电子》。J.Phys.67,880-884(1999)；以及J.Moore，C.Davis和M.Coplan(Perseus Books，1991，第75-118页和305-344页)在《建筑科学仪器》中对真空技术和电子光学的讨论。之所以选择这些问题，是因为它们涉及的工具和学生可以从中学到的技能。通过解决相同的问题并讨论在密切协调的讲座中提出的实验技术，学生们既发展了个人技能，也培养了团队合作的能力。这种协作模式已经用机械混沌实验进行了测试，取得了很好的结果，特别是在提高学生对独立研究项目的准备方面。该项目由学生在项目过程中进行评估，并随着他们在专业上的进步而进行纵向评估；由内部和外部的教师进行评估；并通过提交详细的教师手册、支持网站和在《美国物理学杂志》和《物理教师》等期刊上的文章来进行审查和评论。