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Re: [Phys-l] gravitational force

The old Physical Science text by Holton (and Brush) had some neat geometric
drawings that the students could construct that would easily produce an
elliptical orbit when one started a planet off with an arbitrary velocity
vector and then adjusted that vector for the effect of acceleration (1/r^2)
over a fixed time step. I used to use that when I taught HS physics many
(35?) years ago. It was amazing to see the ellipses develop as the students
performed the exercise.

Bob at PC

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Mike VanAntwerp
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:14 PM
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] gravitational force

Sure- thanks for the sarcasm. I'm looking for ways to get students to
work with Kepler's Laws and F= G (m1m2/d^2) in a lab setting. This is
for a high school class.

Mike Van Antwerp
Biology W202
mvanantw@hpsk12.net

jsd@av8n.com 10/31 10:25 AM >>>
On 10/31/2006 09:23 AM, Mike VanAntwerp wrote:
Does anyone have any lab activities or advice on teaching a unit on
this? I'd appreciate any help with this.

Can you ask a more specific question? There are probably hundreds
if not thousands of possible lessons in this general area. Just to
scratch the surface:
-- Dropping things.
-- Rolling things on inclined planes, à la Galileo.
-- Pine car derby.
-- Pendulums.
-- Interrupted pendulums, à la Galileo.
-- Putting an accelerometer in a nearby elevator.
-- A field trip to the nearest pre-school playground merry-go-round
http://trouble.philadelphiaweekly.com/archives/MERRY-GO-%20ROUND.jpg

-- Centrifuges.
-- Centrifuges where the string is cut loose at the 12:00 position so
that the subsequent motion of the now-free particle can be observed.
Hint: the string can be cut by a torch, or released by a photogate
plus electromagnet. The idea is you want to make sure the cutting
process doesn't disturb the motion.
-- et cetera...................
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l