[Phys-L] Re: In the Private Universe

[Joseph Bellina <jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

You make a good point about observation.  I think it is very powerful to
have students observe the motion of the sun through the year, thinking
about in that geocentric way...the motion of the sun.  And then ask the
question, if we want the sun to stationary and the earth to move, how
must it do it.  Then give them the stuff that Vickie spoke about, and
let them have at it.

joe

Bernard Cleyet wrote:

> Jerry Mander wrote a book about this [JB's 1st sentence], inter alia.
>
> This applies to Marx's noticing the picture trumps the text.
>
>
> http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/~apert/mander.htm
> <http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/%7Eapert/mander.htm>
>
> digression:
>
>
> http://www.praxagora.com/stevet/meditations/speedup.html
>
> About the seasons.  I suspect nearly everyone before Gutenberg knew why
> it was warmer in the Summer.  Most likely not theoretically, but from
> observation.  The source was operating longer and more direct higher in
> the sky.  I recommend an elementary school project where the students,
> the same time each day, measure the height of the sun w/ a gnomon, and
> using the newspaper or directly determine the length of each day for the
> school year, then plot both.  Today's students lack observational
> skill.  e.g. the wire connected to the screw base.
>
> bc

--
Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
574-284-4662, 4968
Saint Mary's College
Dept. of Chemistry and Physics
Notre Dame, IN, 46556