Chapter 1 Preliminaries, Science, Measurement, Estimation

Introduction: Our approach Preliminaries –Welcome –Subject matter –Organization of Course Nature of Science Measurement Estimation Wrap-up

Welcome/Subject matter Welcome Subject matter Physics (def) WcR7U2tuNoY&feature=relateddef WcR7U2tuNoY&feature=related Historical context (quote)quote

Organization Syllabus (quick questions, more later) Class document (quick questions...) Class management software –deep hacking of ILT site –reading questions, other Mastering Physics introduction –Reg. code, and the first assignment Homework reviewing (more later)

…Organization Journals –packets distributed next time –first topics (handout) Science Study Techniques physics x announcement PER in our class (survey/more later) “First Day Exercise”

Nature of Science Comments (quote from Physics Today)quote Science Card Sort activity Science Resource packet A comprehensive view of science –introductionintroduction –outline Science-Dogmatism exercise

Measurement Measurement exercise with circles and meter sticks (go to)(go to) –units –measurement ≠ one value –significant figures Collective data analysis –proportional reasoning Final “note(s)” at

Estimation High-level thinking & minimal precision (one order of magnitude)/valuable practice estimation exercise (sample)(sample)

Mathematics assessment Your Algebra/Arithmetic starting point –pre-test

Physics assessment Basic mechanics concepts –pre-test

Wrap-up Chapter 1 questions/discussion –outstanding questions Language clarifications –theory –law –model –representation Homework exchange for review (ref.)(ref.)

the end

What is science? ► A human activity; a process in contrast to a body of knowledge ► A means of producing useful knowledge; involves generalizing ► A process centered in the relationship of concepts (ideas) and experience (action)

What is science? Aspects of the relationship of concepts and experience: –Ideas guide actions –Ideas shape perceptions –Experience affects ideas

What is science? Key questions about the nature of science: ►What makes science what it is? ►What is the opposite of science? return

Whenever I ask nonscientists whether they have ever before heard a mature discussion of what science is about, what we require of a theory, and how we recognize right science, I find few have. I myself have never been in a classroom, either as student or teacher, where those issues were discussed. We were too busy with pulleys and levers or Hamiltonians. We need to do better. -- Murray Peshkin, theoretical physicist in Physics Today July 2006 return

physics The study of matter and its motion in its most fundamental forms (NYT usage)NYT usage

Public Editor in first column (Why I would do this), Arthur Brisbane: “The acceleration of the news pace,” Mr. Keller said, “increases the risk that we will fall short of our standards. That calls for greater vigilance, not lower standards.” This sets a huge challenge for the organization. News delivered digitally in rapid cycles – with much less time for editing and oversight – will create more lapses. It is simply physics. return

Of all the intellectual hurdles which the human mind has confronted and has overcome in the last fifteen hundred years, the one which seems to me to have been the most amazing in character and the most stupendous in the scope of its consequences is the one relating to the problem of motion… –Herbert Butterfield (1957) backback

What to look for in reviewing other students’ homework We will use the scoring rules (commonly called a rubric) developed by the Physics Education Research group at the University of Minnesota and presented by Jennifer Dockter in Summer (See last page giving credit.)

Rubric Categories (based on research literature) Useful DescriptionUseful Description –organize information from the problem statement symbolically, visually, and/or in writing. Physics ApproachPhysics Approach –select appropriate physics concepts and principles to use Specific Application of PhysicsSpecific Application of Physics –apply physics approach to the specific conditions in problem Mathematical ProceduresMathematical Procedures –follow appropriate & correct math rules/procedures Logical ProgressionLogical Progression –(overall) solution progresses logically; it is coherent, focused toward a goal, and consistent

Rubric Scores (in general) 4321 Complete & appropriate Minor omissions or errors Parts missing and/or contain errors Most missing and/or contain errors 0NA ProbNA Solver All incorrect or all missing Not necessary for this problem Not necessary for this solver

Instrument at a glance (Rubric) 43210NA (P) NA (S) Physics Approach Specific Application Math Procedures Logical Progression Useful Description SCORE CATEGORY: (based on literature)

Robust Assessment Instrument for Student Problem Solving Jennifer L. Docktor Kenneth Heller, Patricia Heller, Tom Thaden- Koch, Jun Li, Jay Dornfeld, Michael Forte Physics Education Research & Development Group (return)

Measurement Exercise Work in group Get a meter stick and a circular disk Measure the circumference of the disk and the diameter of the disk Calculate the ratio of the circumference by the diameter Report your result (return)

Estimation exercise Estimate the number of hairs on a medium sized dog. (return)

set up video (return)