Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-L] Sequence



I don't really think the order amounts to a hill of beans, but: I like to start with conservation laws first and then hit them again later on after doing motion and forces. See "The Book" at
http://www.anselm.edu/internet/physics/cbphysics/downloadsi.html
Conservation of energy in particular is just book keeping applied to a scalar quantity. I find that if I start with motion followed by forces people tend to use constant acceleration equations to solve problems where the acceleration is not constant--problems that are trivial using conservation of energy and beyond the scope of a non-calculus-based course using motion + forces concepts directly.

-----Original Message-----
From: Phys-l [mailto:phys-l-bounces@phys-l.org] On Behalf Of James Cibulka
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 4:00 PM
To: phys-l@phys-l.org
Subject: [Phys-L] Sequence

Good day all!

Several teachers at my school have decided they want to teach forces first in
our ninth grade physics course.
I currently teach constant velocity, balanced forces, constant acceleration,
constant net force, energy and finally mechanical waves. One teacher does
motion then forces, and another does forces first, then motion.

We are being told to show up with our arguments why we should follow a
certain sequence. All the headache of college teaching with none of the joy
it seems!
Anyone here have an opinion on sequence? I'd love to hear from you!

Jim Cibulka
Kirkwood high school
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@phys-l.org
http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l