The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course
We share our experience incorporating open-ended experimentation into an upper-division classical mechanics course through project-based learning, including one student’s investigation of a common textbook problem and its unexpected connections to astrophysics. By iterating a computational model and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Emergent Scientist |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://emergent-scientist.edp-open.org/articles/emsci/full_html/2025/01/emsci240001/emsci240001.html |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832098397354459136 |
|---|---|
| author | Tarr Steven W. Brunner Joseph S. Alicea-Muñoz Emily Goldman Daniel I. |
| author_facet | Tarr Steven W. Brunner Joseph S. Alicea-Muñoz Emily Goldman Daniel I. |
| author_sort | Tarr Steven W. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We share our experience incorporating open-ended experimentation into an upper-division classical mechanics course through project-based learning, including one student’s investigation of a common textbook problem and its unexpected connections to astrophysics. By iterating a computational model and an experimental apparatus, the student participated in inquiry in a way that would not have been possible in a typical classical mechanics course. We advocate the adoption of similar hands-on approaches in the classroom to help upper-division students develop both an understanding of the value of experimentation and an appreciation of the diversity and subtlety of physical phenomena that can emerge in apparently simple systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-377eb2bbe79b48a5b2d8cfdf86105943 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2556-8779 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emergent Scientist |
| spelling | doaj-art-377eb2bbe79b48a5b2d8cfdf861059432025-02-05T10:52:47ZengEDP SciencesEmergent Scientist2556-87792025-01-019110.1051/emsci/2024003emsci240001The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics courseTarr Steven W.0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3486-0730Brunner Joseph S.1Alicea-Muñoz Emily2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4167-766XGoldman Daniel I.3School of Physics, Georgia Institute of TechnologySchool of Physics, Georgia Institute of TechnologySchool of Physics, Georgia Institute of TechnologySchool of Physics, Georgia Institute of TechnologyWe share our experience incorporating open-ended experimentation into an upper-division classical mechanics course through project-based learning, including one student’s investigation of a common textbook problem and its unexpected connections to astrophysics. By iterating a computational model and an experimental apparatus, the student participated in inquiry in a way that would not have been possible in a typical classical mechanics course. We advocate the adoption of similar hands-on approaches in the classroom to help upper-division students develop both an understanding of the value of experimentation and an appreciation of the diversity and subtlety of physical phenomena that can emerge in apparently simple systems.https://emergent-scientist.edp-open.org/articles/emsci/full_html/2025/01/emsci240001/emsci240001.htmlproject-based learningclassical mechanicszoom-whirl orbitexperimental inquirysimulation |
| spellingShingle | Tarr Steven W. Brunner Joseph S. Alicea-Muñoz Emily Goldman Daniel I. The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course Emergent Scientist project-based learning classical mechanics zoom-whirl orbit experimental inquiry simulation |
| title | The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course |
| title_full | The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course |
| title_fullStr | The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course |
| title_full_unstemmed | The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course |
| title_short | The value of hands-on experiments in an upper-division classical mechanics course |
| title_sort | value of hands on experiments in an upper division classical mechanics course |
| topic | project-based learning classical mechanics zoom-whirl orbit experimental inquiry simulation |
| url | https://emergent-scientist.edp-open.org/articles/emsci/full_html/2025/01/emsci240001/emsci240001.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tarrstevenw thevalueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT brunnerjosephs thevalueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT aliceamunozemily thevalueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT goldmandanieli thevalueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT tarrstevenw valueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT brunnerjosephs valueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT aliceamunozemily valueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse AT goldmandanieli valueofhandsonexperimentsinanupperdivisionclassicalmechanicscourse |