AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics

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written by Jim Nelson and Jane Nelson
published by the American Association of Physics Teachers

This AAPT/PTRA Teacher Resource Guide contains an introduction to the philosophy and rationale for including a laboratory component in an introductory physics course. Directions are included for more than 30 sample laboratory activities. Topics include: speed, centripetal force, motion of a pendulum, heating and cooling, lenses, Ohm's law, magnetic fields, and induced EMF.

Eight sample activities are available for download through the "View attached documents" link below.

Series Name: PTRA Teacher Resource Guides

https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physi...

8 cached copy documents are available

The Yellow Light Problem
In this activity students investigate the timing of a traffic light to see if it is appropriately set. This activity provides a real world example of the use of kinematics. See Man Made World Laboratory Manual, ISBN 07-019506-4, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1972.
download 16kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Static Equilibrium
This activity is a variation of the typical static laboratory activity, and includes a method of measuring buoyant force. See article "Static Equilibrium", by Jim Nelson in the December, 1985 issue of The Science Teacher.
download 18kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Force Distribution
This activity is a life-sized activity for students to investigate the forces and torques acting on the supports of a bridge.
download 12kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Motion of a Simple Pendulum
This is a typical simple pendulum laboratory activity with minimum directions. An introduction is provided for a physical pendulum. Timing can be done by using a light probe and a computer, photogate, or a stopwatch.
download 36kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Prediction of Landing Position
In this activity, the students predict the landing point of a pendulum bob if its string is cut at the bottom of its swing. Energy considerations are used to predict the point. Then the students try it.
download 55kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Ohm's Law
In this activity students set up their first circuit using meters and specially made resistors in heat sink boxes (not required), which do not require alligator clips and don't burn hands.
download 15kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Power Transfer
In this activity students are asked to find the condition for maximum power transfer from a power supply to a load resistor. By adding an "internal resistor" to a power supply it can be made a variable in a typical power transfer laboratory activity. Students who …
download 12kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Milli-Can Experiment
In this activity students will do a simulation of the Millikan experiment. This activity can be used as an introduction to the analytical approach used in the famous Oil Drop Experiment for finding the charge of an electron. See article in the January 1980 issue of The Physics Teacher.
download 8kb .pdf
Published: January 1, 1995
Rights: Copyright, Jim and Jane Nelson

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Practices - Curriculum Development = Laboratory General Physics - Curriculum	- High School - Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Activity = Instructor Guide/Manual = Laboratory

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Lesson Plan	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Educator
Professional/Practitioner
Format:: non-digital
Mirror:: http://iweb.aapt.org/iweb/Purchas…
Access Rights:: Available for purchase; Cost for full PTRA manual
Restriction:: © 1995 AAPT
Keywords:: lab activities, laboratories in physics, role of the lab
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created June 14, 2006 by Bruce Mason
Record Updated:: August 19, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 1, 1995
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=3773">Nelson, Jim, and Jane Nelson. AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 1995.</a>

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J. Nelson and J. Nelson, (American Association of Physics Teachers, College Park, 1995), WWW Document, (https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X).

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J. Nelson and J. Nelson, AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics (American Association of Physics Teachers, College Park, 1995), <https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X>.

APA Format

Nelson, J., & Nelson, J. (1995). AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X

Chicago Format

Nelson, Jim, and Jane Nelson. AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 1995. https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X (accessed 10 October 2024).

MLA Format

Nelson, Jim, and Jane Nelson. AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics. PTRA Teacher Resource Guides. College Park: American Association of Physics Teachers, 1995. 1 Jan. 1995. 10 Oct. 2024 <https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X>.

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@book{ Author = "Jim Nelson and Jane Nelson", Title = {AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics}, Publisher = {American Association of Physics Teachers}, Address = {College Park}, Series = {PTRA Teacher Resource Guides}, Year = {1995} }

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%A Jim Nelson %A Jane Nelson %T AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics %S PTRA Teacher Resource Guides %D January 1, 1995 %I American Association of Physics Teachers %C College Park %U https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X %O non-digital

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%0 Book %A Nelson, Jim %A Nelson, Jane %D January 1, 1995 %T AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics %B PTRA Teacher Resource Guides %C College Park %I American Association of Physics Teachers %8 January 1, 1995 %U https://www.amazon.com/Role-Laboratory-Teaching-Introductory-Physics/dp/091785361X

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AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory in Teaching Introductory Physics:

Contains AAPT/PTRA Role of the Laboratory: The Yellow Light Problem

The Yellow Light lab, part of the Role of Lab AAPT/PTRA manual, studies kinematics and motion.

relation by Bruce Mason

Contains Role of the Laboratory: Static Equilibrium

The Static Equilibrium lab, part of the Role of Lab AAPT/PTRA manual, investigates forces and buoyancy.

relation by Bruce Mason

Contains Role of the Laboratory: Force Distribution

Force Distribution, part of the Role of Lab AAPT/PTRA manual, is a student activity investigating forces and torques on the supports of a bridge.

relation by Bruce Mason

Contains Role of the Laboratory: Motion of a Simple Pendulum

Motion of a Simple Pendulum, part of the Role of Lab AAPT/PTRA manual, is a standard simple pendulum laboratory.

relation by Bruce Mason

Contains Role of the Laboratory: Prediction of Landing Position

Prediction of Landing Position, part of the Role of Lab AAPT/PTRA manual, uses energy considerations to predict the landing point of a pendulum bob if the pendulum string is cut.

relation by Bruce Mason

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