Question for Moderators of Homework Section

[loseyourname]

Zz, I see your point and understand the reason to change it, however, is there any other way to word it that would be correct? It took me a moment to process the wording there, so I can just imagine a struggling student just glazing over and getting completely stuck at that point. Something, perhaps, like the change in velocity over time or the change in velocity as time passes. I know it's important to convey it's not just that the velocity changes, but how that velocity is changing over a period of time.

Personally, I think the best way to verbally state this is "the change in velocity with respect to the change in time," and this statement should be accompanied by an explanation stating that velocity can also change with respect to other variables. The point seems to get across best through the use of graphs, where the student can clearly see the two axes on which different variable are mapped. Visually apprehending the relationship can help a great deal.

 

[hotvette]

Ok gang, I've incorporated as best I can the comments that have been made. Pls don't be offended if is isn't exactly what you intended.

My personal opinion is that we're at the point of greatly diminishing returns unless there is something glaring that is unclear or confusing. My overriding objective is no more than 1 page per topic. Anyway, have a read of what I believe to be the final, final version.

 

[amcavoy]

I had a brilliant idea last night at 3am (why do all brilliant ideas seem to come at 3am when your mind is racing from injesting far too much caffine during the day?) to include a couple of examples using different choices of coordinate systems. So, I did the free falling body and block on incline problems again w/ different coordinate systems. This will hopefully show the impact of choosing an appropriate coordinate system.

Anyway, here goes, and this one is it, done, finished, final, fertig, fini, finito, terminado, befejezett, обработанный, 出来上がる

Those look really good. This is definitely going to help in the homework section!

Alex

 

[hotvette]

Thanks. So, unless the Moderators and/or PF staff have an objection, I guess the next step is to place this as a sticky in the Homework Section? Is there anything I need to do or will someone else do it?

Sure would appreciate it if someone were to check the math, first, though. I believe it is correct, but it is always good to have fresh eyes look at it.

 

[Gokul43201]

I've added hotvette's files into the HW discussion thread in Gen Physics. This also contains Marlon's and arildno's tutorials.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=780118#post780118

Hotvette, that's a real spiffy tute. Thanks !

I too have written up a tutorial on tackling force problems - aimed at high school (pre-calc) students. I've just got to put in a couple more figures and it will be done. Hope to add it to the existing list of tutorials soon.

 

[hotvette]

I've added hotvette's files into the HW discussion thread in Gen Physics. This also contains Marlon's and arildno's tutorials.

Many thanks for this. Time will tell whether it ends up being useful to anyone...

 

[hotvette]

CURRENT TUTORIALS AND TEXTS

1. Newtonian Mechanics, Motion on Inclines, Work Energy Theorem by Marlon.

2. Classical Systems With Variable Mass And Other Geometric Systems by arildno.

3. Classical Mechanics, Motion under Gravity, Motion on Inclines by hotvette.

This is a great way to crisply summarize available tutorials and how to get to them! Is there any chance the PF staff would be willing to put what is inside the above quote as a sticky in the Homework Section with a title of 'Tutorials'?

It seems to me there would be more 'hits' if a sticky with this title were in front of the faces of the students. Also, if additional PF staff approved tutorials were to be created, the sticky could be edited to add another line item. Anyway, just a suggestion...:shy:

 

[Gokul43201]

Hotvette, if I'm not mistaken, the PF staff are currently engaging in discussions of, among other things, how best to incorporate the tutorials into the Science Education Zone.

 

[Moonbear]

Hotvette, if I'm not mistaken, the PF staff are currently engaging in discussions of, among other things, how best to incorporate the tutorials into the Science Education Zone.

Not mistaken at all. We're already discussing the next remodeling project, and are drawing up the blueprints with tutorials in mind.

 

[quantumdude]

Yes, it's true.

Hotvette, by all means keep doing what you're doing for as long as you care to. Just because we've been quiet here, it doesn't mean that we aren't watching and approving. It's just that lately we seem to be "in conference" so much in the Mentor's Private Forum.

 

[hotvette]

OK, thanks for the feedback. Maybe this tutorial can be a trial run for a while to see if it really helps anybody out.

 

[Moonbear]

With the reorganization of the Science Education Zone, we now have a forum dedicated to tutorials. I've moved the post in this thread containing the final version of the tutorial as a new thread there. The new location is:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=93670

If anyone else is inspired to prepare tutorials, please make use of the new forum.