Re: Am I teaching what I should in HS physics?

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@HEP.ANL.GOV>]

Hi Daniel-
        I guess I differ from John D. because I am not interested in a
"linear sequence" of concepts and words leading up to College Physics.  I
am interested in a general background of a student's understanding of the
world around him before the student undertakes a theoretical physics
course.
        The "general background" includes some understanding of
automobiles and how the work, kinematics and personal safety,
electricity and the stuff that it powers, and the kitchen and the things
that happen there. (I once tutored a scion of a wealthy family who could
not remember ever seeing a pot of water boil).
        Your students can discuss the horsepowers of their cars. I think
that at the end of a HS physics course, the student should have an
intuitive grasp of the meaning of "horsepower" and its relation to a car's
ability to accelerate.  You might consider working backward from HP to
work to force.  Leave it to the college course to put these notions into
the usual analytical framework.
        John's comment about flight instruction rang a bell for me.
Flying an airplane is a highly non-intuitive enterprise, as many deceased
would-be-aviators are unable to testify.  Thus, that particular kind of
intuition should probably be left for flight school and special problems.
        My plea, therefore is to make HS physics more like an engineering
course dealing with everyday topics.
        As far as time is concerned, don't forget: Less is more.
                                        Regards,
                                                Jack


On Thu, 27 Jun 2002, Daniel Price wrote:

> In this posting, I am soliciting the opinions of college-level physics
> instructors with regard to the topics and emphases which should be
> contained in a first-year high-school physics course.
>
> At our school, we offer four physics courses (conceptual physics, physics,
> honors physics, and AP Physics C).  The curriculum for AP courses is
> clear-cut, and I at present do not teach the conceptual physics course;
> thus, the discussion that I seek relates to the middle two courses.
>
> What should students have experienced as they enter a first-year college
> physics course?  The question relates to students who plan to study
> engineering or physical science as well as to those who do not.  I also do
> not mean to confine the discussion to a list of "important topics" but
> instead wish to include opinions on skills such as problem-solving and data
> analysis.
>
> Thanks in advance.

--
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you, because that is what I must do.  Tonight it is only you and me, fish.
It is your strength against my intelligence.  It is a veritable potpourri
of metaphor, every nuance of which is fraught with meaning."
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