|
Phenomenal Physics:
A Guided Inquiry Approach
by Dr. J. Russell Harkay
A physics textbook covering every branch of the science, from kinematics to quantum mechanics, using the guided inquiry method of teaching, experiments using household items and lots of diagrams!
|
Over 400 pages, with over 200 images
$49.95 + s/h
Free Shipping with any purchase of $150 or more
May not be combined with other discounts
The philosophy behind the text is one which emphasizes not just knowledge acquisition, but the opportunity and ability to do science. The student becomes the scientist! Further, every attempt is made to take full advantage of real-life experience with activities designed to integrate into and expand existing world views. The physics encountered is real rather than theoretical or hypothetical. Activities are designed to confront potential problems due to Aristotelean thinking or preconceived notions based on popular folklore rather than sound science. Skepticism is encouraged as is a healthy respect for the limitations and proper applications of models. The writing style and even the illustrations are constructed in a manner intended to give the book a user friendly feel. Some humor and whimsy (particularly in titles of activities) help to convey this sense of approachability. Every attempt has been made to reach out and speak to students on a personal level.
The exercises, or learning activities, are grouped into sections that represent the traditional format seen in introductory physics textbooks starting with Newtonian mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, energetics), followed by fluids, vibrations and waves, electricity, optics, and modern physics. It is in no way required that an adopter follow this sequence! Activities do not necessarily build upon previous ones. There is no reason why students cant learn about indirect measurement with the Rutherford activities prior to studying motion. The primary reason for the sequencing is the familiarity with which adopters will find things where they expect to find them. One might consider starting with energy and show that motion follows.
This book differs from existing laboratory approaches in that the students are provided with a minimal set of instructions are will, hopefully, discover for themselves some underlying order and functional relationships. The greatest emphasis is placed upon mastery of the concepts. Inquiry provides a valuable route for accomplishing this. It is more time consuming than older methods, but retention and understanding at the gut level is enhanced. Some exercises have been modified to include more (optional) instructions and quantitative analysis and used as successful algebra-based physics labs.
For college students who have taken physics courses in high school, this isnt your grandfathers type of course! Things may seem awkward at first. You will be adapting to a learning style which, although more natural, is not as structured as your previous course probably was. We do not learn formulas and plug numbers into them. We try to discover how nature works. Some mathematical skills are assumed, such as the ability to create and interpret a graph and the concept of proportionality, but the most important skill is that of observation. You may feel rebellious at first, saying Where are all the instructions?. The lack of detailed instructions is intentional. This is the manner in which people have been doing science for thousands of years (eg. see Galileos Heartbeat). You get to make your own discoveries! Nature follows, for the most part, a set of fairly simple rules. It is hoped that this process will enable you to discover them on your own. The student becomes the scientist, no matter how young or inexperienced.
About the author
The author, Dr. J. Russell Harkay, has been a Professor of Physics at Keene State (NH) College since 1980 and at WVIT for four years before that. He is a 1968 graduate of Rutgers University (AB) and received his PhD in experimental condensed matter physics from the University of Vermont in 1976. A hiatus from graduate work led to the opportunity to work on the Voyager space probe project while on active duty as an officer in the USAF. While attending graduate school, he also enrolled in education courses and worked with secondary students leading to a secondary certification. He was also involved in the early stages of development of inquiry-based approaches to teaching physics, including Harvard Project Physics.
During his tenure at Keene State, Russ Harkay developed a highly popular course in conceptual physics which he taught to hundreds of students annually before the conceptual movement had taken hold. He has continued to perform condensed matter research in his laboratory, developing a surface-sensitive tool now known as plasma resonance spectroscopy.
He is a recipient of the Janet Guernsey Prize (AAPT) for excellence in physics teaching, was the coauthor of a successful NSF grant proposal to fund curriculum development in the area of inquiry (Project INSPIRE), and has redirected his efforts to working in the area of physics education and authoring. Currently he is the President of The American Physical Society in New England.
Table of Contents
SECTION I: METHODS OF SCIENCE AND NEWTONIAN MECHANICS
Overview
...
1
Pythagoras Was a Square
.
7
Square Deal
.11
Stable Mates
...15
Catching Some Rays
...19
Inertial Conditions (Newtons First Law)
..25
Catching Big Air
.
29
Bubble Bubble Speed and Graphing
...33
Galileos Heartbeat
.
39
Moving Experience Visualizing Motion
.
43
Gravity of the Situation: Free Fall
..47
May the Force be with You
51
Friction Among Us
.
55
Newtons Car Forces and Motion
.
...59
A Weighty Subject Mechanical Advantage
.
63
Conservation Conversation: Momentum
.
...67
Grounds for Descent I: Falling Coffee Filters
73
Grounds for Descent II: Computer Modeling
.77
A Real Drag
83
Forever Blowing Bubbles Size Dependence of Terminal Velocity
87
Newtons Toy Box
..91
Joules of Wisdom I Energy
.97
Joules of Wisdom II Energy
..101
Inclined to be Efficient
.
107
Workout: Work and Power
..113
Journey to the Center of Gravity
..117
Java Script
.123
Twister! Tornado in a Bottle
....127
Spinning Sandboxes
.131
Roll Out: Toilet Paper Physics
.135
Assessment: Forces and Motion
141
SECTION II: VIBRATIONS AND SOUND
Overview
...159
Grandfathers Clock
.161
Free Fleas in Breezy Trees Resonance
..165
Making Waves
..
169
Pythagoras Sounds Off Vibrating Objects and Pitch
.175
Pythagoras Sounds Off II Wind Instruments
.181
Singing Rods
..
.
..185
Assessment: Vibrations and Waves
..
189
SECTION III: FLUIDS
Overview
...
193
The Biggest Fritosฎ Always Rise to the Top
..
..195
Pressure Packed: Bernoulli and Descartes
199
All Aboard Floating and Sinking
...
205
Buoyancy, Pressure, and Archimedes Principle
..209
Contact II: Liquids
....211
Assessment: Buoyancy and Fluids in Motion
..215
SECTION IV: HEAT AND TEMPERATURE
Overview
...223
Why Did the Pirate Insulate his Ship?
..
227
The Seven Percent Solution: Mixing
231
Heat in the Kitchen This Spuds for you
...235
Water in the Root Cellar: Phase Changes
.
239
Assessment: Heat and Heat Flow
.
243
SECTION V: ELECTRICTY AND MAGNETISM
Overview
...255
Youll Get a Charge Out of This: Electrostatics
..
.259
Circuit Training
....271
Current Events I, or catching the Energizer Bunny - Electric Circuits
....281
Current Events II
..
283
Feeling Cranky
.287
Electrical Connections I
....291
Electrical Connections II
..295
Teslas Domain Magnetic Fields
...
301
Jumpin Jimminy: The Electric Jump Rope
.305
Assessment: Electricity and Magnetism
..
309
SECTION VI: LIGHT AND OPTICS
Overview
...315
Sunshine on my Shoulder Makes Me Happy
...
319
Seeing the Light Mirrors and Lenses
.323
Great Balls of (Sun) Fire!
.345
Why Dont Fish Wear Goggles? (Making Water and Air Lenses)
..349
A Polarizing Issue: Wave Nature of Light
...359
Running Interference
367
Thinking Clean Thoughts: Soap Bubbles
.375
Assessment: Light and Optics
..377
SECTION VII: MODERN PHYSICS
Overview
.
..387
A BOHRING Topic Spectroscopy
.
391
To BB or Not to BB - Measuring Small Things
...397
Rutherford Revisited Hidden Geometry
....401
Nuclear Marbles, or Rutherfords Revenge
..405
Elementary , My Dear Watson! Quantum Numbers
.409
Watsons Appendix
.
.417
Assessment: Modern Physics
...421
APPENDIX
.
.xiii
$49.95 + s/h. Order your copy below:
Free Shipping with any purchase of $150 or more
|
|
|
|
|
Main Menu
Home Page
Web Design
Virtual Office Design
Free Estimate!
Publishing
2009 Calendar w/ Hubble Images NEW!!!
Kid's Stories Contest
Book Store
Carved in Granite
The Light of Alexandria
Phenomenal Physics
Educational support
Free Physics Lessons
Online Classes
News
Calendar
Clients
About SciArt Media
Contact
|