Re: Birthday Wish

[Richard Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

Even simpler, but seemingly just as difficult for students, is to keep the
whole thing linear.  Place two charges, then define the magnitude and charge
of a third and ask where can this third charge be placed, ON THE LINE, such
that the net force on it will be zero.  Once they can get that, really
confuse them by just providing the first two charges and asking for where
the FIELD is zero.   ;-)

Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Randall E. Sloper <rsloper@SOUTHWESTERN.CC.OR.US>


> Any thoughts on a baseline E & M concept?
>
> Try asking your students to describe the characteristics that distinguish
the two
> types of charge and to postulate as to the characteristics of a third type
of
> charge if one existed.  This Idea is broadly discussed and elaborated on in
Arons
> "A guide to Introductory Physics Teaching."
>
> Randy
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Richard W. Tarara
Department of Chemistry & Physcis
Notre Dame, IN 46556
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rtarara@saintmarys.edu

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