The discussion revolves around the creation of a Physics Homework FAQ thread aimed at assisting students with introductory physics problems. Participants explore various topics within physics, including kinematics, Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, and problem-solving techniques, while considering the structure and content of the FAQ.
Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the structure and content of the FAQ. While some support the idea of a FAQ, others raise concerns about its feasibility and the potential for it to become unwieldy. There is no consensus on the specific topics to include or the best approach to take.
Participants acknowledge that the project may require careful consideration of the types of questions to address and the balance between general approaches and specific physics topics. There is also recognition of the potential drawbacks of providing complete solutions that may hinder students' independent problem-solving skills.
This discussion may be useful for educators, students in introductory physics courses, and those interested in developing resources for physics homework assistance.
Astronuc said:I have been wondering about this myself. Is there such a thread in the Math forum? If not, I would be pleased to create one.
I think an understanding of the physical signifcance of gradient, divergence and curl is very helpful to students in physics and engineering.
There is an excellent discussion of this matter in "Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics", by Frederick W. Byon, Jr. and Robert W. Fuller. So I imagine any thread on this subject would be pretty much a regurgatation of Byron and Fuller.
BTW, I like marlon's and arildno's treatments of the subjects they did. Like e(ho0n3 mentioned, I have not seen a treatment like the one by arildno in "Classical Systems With Variable Mass And Other Geometric Systems". I think this partially addresses the matter discussed in "lessons" in the Feedback forum.