Re: Graphing Calculators and Intro Physics

[John Barrer <forcejb@YAHOO.COM>]

Easy to do; just make problems that are based on
tabular data and have them plot (using lists). Start
with linear data and as (if) they become more
competent, move to simple non-linear data that is
easily "linearized". This also provides opportunities
to reinforce the physical meaning of the y-intercept
(did I mention I have a thing for that?)

I would strongly suggest that you start them with
metersticks and stopwatches to get lab data before
moving to the "high-tech" toys.  Especially with
lower-level kiddos, it's far too easy for them to
simply see the electronic toys that generate numbers
without any feeling for what they reprsent. John
Barrere
--- Tina Fanetti <FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US> wrote:
> Oh we have computers and motion sensors and all the
> software from Pas=
> co.  I guess what I was trying to do was incorporate
> more graphing th=
> roughout the course and not just during lab.
>
> Tina
>
> Tina Fanetti
> Physics Instructor
> Western Iowa Technical Community College
> 4647 Stone Ave
> Sioux City IA 51102
> 712-274-8733 ext 1429


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