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Analog-To-Digital Science: Modeling Binary Coding and the CD Read System
written by
Alice Flarend
edited by
Caroline Hall
This five-day lesson module for high school physics uses modeling and hands-on investigation to explore how digital signals are created from analog information. Students will use art as an analogy to differentiate analog and digital media, choose sampling rates and apply mathematics, and encode/decode words in binary. In the culminating activity, learners build a working model of a CD player that uses laser light to read a word coded as a binary message. The lesson can be adapted for learners with little or no background in binary number systems. Materials include laser pointer, smartphone light meter, motorized toy car (to rotate the CD), blank compact discs, and converging lenses.
Released under a ©AAPT, 2018
Published April 12, 2018
Last Modified April 12, 2018
This file has previous versions.
Teacher's Guide: Analog-To-Digital
by Alice Flarend
Word Version: Print and customize your lesson.
Released under a ©AAPT, 2018
Published April 12, 2018
Last Modified April 12, 2018
Student Guide: Analog-To-Digital
by Alice Flarend
Printable student version for classroom distribution.
Released under a ©AAPT, 2018
Published April 12, 2018
Last Modified April 12, 2018