Computer-Based Measurement and Simulation Facilities for General Physics

该项目代表了与2学期普通物理课程序列相关的实验室的重大修订和现代化。该序列每年为700名学生提供服务，并被17个学位课程所要求。这些课程包括生物学，化学，运动机能学，地球科学以及医学预科和物理治疗预科课程，共有1,200个专业，来自高度种族多元化的学生群体。 该项目解决了三个课程的不足之处：学生的定量技能发展不足，物理直觉发展不足，非物理专业的相关性不足。所有这三个缺陷都源于学生在学习过程中作为积极参与者的参与不足。计算机数据采集，分析和模拟方法，再加上更多相关的新实验，使学生成为实验室中活跃，感兴趣的学习者，而不仅仅是数据的记录者。该部门正在为现有的非主要实验室配备计算机站（一个站/两名学生）。每个站包括一个接口单元和传感器，以允许计算机直接获取诸如位置、力、温度、声音、光强度和磁场水平等量。这些台站还包括使用交互式物理学II软件和基于CD-ROM的可视化材料的模拟和可视化能力。 项目经验和实验室手册将通过万维网和会议期间的讲习班以及通过出版物和介绍与物理学界分享。

This project represents a major revision and modernization of the laboratories associated with the 2-semester General Physics course sequence. This sequence serves 700 students each year and is required by 17 degree programs. These programs include biology, chemistry, kinesiology, geosciences, and the premedical and pre-physical-therapy curricula, with a combined enrollment of 1,200 majors, from a highly ethnically diverse student body. The project addresses three curricular deficiencies: insufficient development of students' quantitative skills, insufficient development of physical intuition, and insufficient relevance for non-physics-majors. All three deficiencies stem from the inadequate involvement of the students as active and involved participants in the learning process. The computer data acquisition, analysis, and simulation approach, coupled with more relevant new experiments, enables students to become active, interested learners in the laboratory, not just recorders of data. The department is equipping the existing nonmajor laboratories with computer stations (one station/two students). Each station includes an interface unit and sensors to allow direct computer acquisition of such quantities as position, force, temperature, sound, light intensity, and magnetic field level. These stations also include a simulation and visualization capability using the Interactive Physics II software and CD-ROM based visualization materials. Project experiences and laboratory manuals will be shared with the physics community over the World Wide Web and in workshops at meetings, as well as through publications and presentations.