Re: Video Analysis

[gastineau@badgerden.com (John E. Gastineau)]

>        This summer I'm having a student look into using video analysis
> tools for our introductory labs and lecture demonstrations.  I would like
> to hear from the folks on this list of their experiences (good and bad)
> with using video analysis tools.  What types of activities have you tried?
> What software have you used (VideoGraph, VideoPoint, etc.)?   Our labs are
> Mac-based, but I'm sure others would be interested in software for IBMs.

I reviewd Videopoint, Videograph, and World-in-Motion in the Autumn 1995
issue of the Physics Courseware Communicator. (pcep@ncsu.edu for info on
that publication). There will be an update to the World in Motion review in
the Summer '97 issue.

Pretty much any of these can be used for great in-class activities on
kinematics  and dynamics. They provide good real-world connections, since
the videos are obviously real. I tended to use the video analysis as an
element of an interactive engagement style class, rather than as a
laboratory-style exercise. Most activities were quite short.

To consider projectile motion, I got a student volunteer to jump his
mountain bike off of a high ledge. On taping that, I had the class analyze
the motion. This was before we talked about the independence of the
horizontal and vertical motion, etc, etc. As a result they were able to see
these things for themselves instead of my telling them.

Another good one is to take a clip from a movie and have the students
determine something about it. Eg, use the jet plane landing on an aircraft
carrier from Top Gun and determine the landing speed. Students will have to
think about what is needed to answer that question, and then go get it.

let's see, I also have some slides available from a talk I gave a year ago, at

http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/pams/physics/PCEP/impec/Uaevid/sld001.htm

The talk was a critical review of video tools. Don't view these on a slow link.

JEG


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John E. Gastineau
900 B Ridgeway Ave.
Morgantown WV 26505
304 296 1966
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