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L. K. Wilkinson, John S. Risley, J. Gastineau, P. V. Engelhardt, and S. F. Schultz
The ability to construct and interpret graphs associated with simple motions of objects is unquestionably a desirable outcome of physics education. The computer program Graphs and Tracks was designed to help students build such skills. The genesis of Graphs and Tracks dates from the early 1980s, when the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington began conducting research on student understanding of the kinematic concepts of 1D velocity and acceleration. A physical system similar to the one simulated in Graphs and Tracks, consisting of a ball rolling on a slotted track, has been used by the Physics Education Group and has been integrated into curricular material. Graphs and Tracks was updated in the late 1980s to reflect insight drawn from research concerning student understanding of graphing concepts used in kinematics. The system simulated in Graphs and Tracks is a ball sliding without friction along a segmented track in which each segment can have a unique slope. Transitions from one segment of the track to another are artificially smooth. As users are informed, the vertical dimension of the track is exaggerated onscreen so that slopes appear up to nine times greater than they actually are. Thus, the appearance of the ball's motion onscreen is highly two-dimensional. The package is divided into two programs: Graphs and Tracks I: From Graphs to Motion and Graphs and Tracks II: From Motion to Graphs. Both sections include online tutorial instruction on how to operate the program. These tutorials thoroughly cover all of the basic functions used in the program.
Computers in Physics: Volume 8, Issue 6, Pages 696-699
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=3025">Wilkinson, L, J. Risley, J. Gastineau, P. Engelhardt, and S. Schultz. "Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool." Comput. Phys. 8, no. 6, (1994): 696-699.</a>
AIP Format
L. Wilkinson, J. Risley, J. Gastineau, P. Engelhardt, and S. Schultz, , Comput. Phys. 8 (6), 696 (1994), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352).
AJP/PRST-PER
L. Wilkinson, J. Risley, J. Gastineau, P. Engelhardt, and S. Schultz, Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool, Comput. Phys. 8 (6), 696 (1994), <https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352>.
APA Format
Wilkinson, L., Risley, J., Gastineau, J., Engelhardt, P., & Schultz, S. (1994). Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool. Comput. Phys., 8(6), 696-699. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352
Chicago Format
Wilkinson, L, J. Risley, J. Gastineau, P. Engelhardt, and S. Schultz. "Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool." Comput. Phys. 8, no. 6, (1994): 696-699, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352 (accessed 20 March 2025).
MLA Format
Wilkinson, L. K., John Risley, J. Gastineau, P. V. Engelhardt, and S. F. Schultz. "Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool." Comput. Phys. 8.6 (1994): 696-699. 20 Mar. 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{
Author = "L. K. Wilkinson and John Risley and J. Gastineau and P. V. Engelhardt and S. F. Schultz",
Title = {Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool},
Journal = {Comput. Phys.},
Volume = {8},
Number = {6},
Pages = {696-699},
Year = {1994}
}
Refer Export Format
%A L. K. Wilkinson %A John Risley %A J. Gastineau %A P. V. Engelhardt %A S. F. Schultz %T Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool %J Comput. Phys. %V 8 %N 6 %D 1994 %P 696-699 %U https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352 %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Journal Article %A Wilkinson, L. K. %A Risley, John %A Gastineau, J. %A Engelhardt, P. V. %A Schultz, S. F. %D 1994 %T Graphs and Tracks Impresses as a Kinematics Teaching Tool %J Comput. Phys. %V 8 %N 6 %P 696-699 %M 4844002 %U https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823352 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |
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