Physics 641: Physics Pedagogy
An On-line Course for Teachers of Physics

Week 5 Assignment: Demos

Assignment 1

Use the web and any other resources you have available to research demonstrations for Newton's Third Law and Conservation of Momentum. Write a paragraph describing each of the following. Be sure to include a reference to any website you used and the PIRA DCS number for each demonstration. You can follow this link to the DCS website. Upload this assignment to Open Portfolio as HW8. This assignment is due Monday, February 27, 2006, before 5 a.m. EST.

1. Describe a demonstration you currently do to demonstrate Newton's Third Law and find a similar demonstration description at a college or university (do not use PIRA). Explain the similarities and differences in not less than 150 words.
2. Find three Conservation of Momentum Demonstrations/Newton's Third Law that you could include in your lesson plans for under $10.00 each. Include the DCS, a web reference, an explanation of the physics it demonstrates and a description in your own words. We expect this to be a total of at least 500 words.
3. Find 3 different "fire extinguisher cart" demonstrations (1N22.10) and explain (in not less than 400 words total for all three):
   • Physics of the demonstration
   • Operation of each demonstration, i.e, What kind of fire extinguisher-type device is used (remember that it doesn't really have to be a fire extinguisher)? How is it released? How large is it? Include a picture of each demonstration (either taken by yourself or copied from the web) if possible.

Assignment 2

Choose one of the demonstrations listed below, build the demo, write a description of the demo and construct a complete lesson plan which incorporates the demo. You are on your honor to choose a demonstration that you do not currently have in your collection. These demonstrations will be available for all students taking this class now and in the future. No minimum length is given here, but this is a significant project. Upload this assignment to Open Portfolio as HW9. This assignment is due Monday, February 27, 2006, before 5 a.m.

For this assignment you must include:

1. A description of the demonstration and how you built it. This should include an explanation of the physics concept the demo addresses. This should be written in a format separate from the lesson plan.
2. A lesson plan, using the template found here, which could incorporate the demo. Student worksheets similar to those used with ILD are encouraged.
3. A photograph of the demonstration you build.
4. Comments on how the demonstration could be improved.

The demo should look professional, not just a collection of pieces of equipment in your closet. This should be something new that you have built for this class.

Choose from these demos:

• 1F20.10 Inertia balls
• 1G10.40 Atwood's machine
• 1J10.10 Map of State
• 1J40.10 Grip Bar
• 1M10.20 Pile Driver
• 1Q10.10 Inertia Wands
• 2B40.30 Cartesian Diver
• 3A70.20 Coupled pendula
• 3B40.10 Doppler Buzzer
• 3D30.70 Hoot tubes
• 5F20.50 Series and parallel lights
• 6F10.10 colored shadows
• 6H10.10 Polaroids on overhead