Study guide - One-Dimensional Motion - Mechanics Ch.1

    A "Jigsaw" approach to teaching and learning, based on Sherry Walton's techniques.
      Physical Systems 1998-99
      with E.J. Zita
    Do steps 1-3 over the weekend. Work with your team on Monday. Prepare material to share with the class on Tuesday.

    1. Each of you will be asked to read one section of the first chapter of Barger and Olsson's Classical Mechanics thoroughly so that you can share important information and concepts from that section with a small group. Study guides are provided to help you prepare. You counted off by fours on Friday afternoon. If you counted 1, you're in Team 1 below, and so forth.

    2. Before reading your section of the text, read the book's Preface and section 1.1, and read the first set of instructions on your study guide.

    3. Then follow the steps on the your study guide to read, explore, and organize the information in the sectio for which you are responsible.

      Team 1: 1.2 Interactions

      Team 2: 1.3 The Drag Racer: Frictional Force

      Team 3: 1.4 Sport Parachuting: Aerodynamic Drag

      Team 4: 1.5 Archery: Spring Force

    4. Monday's class meeting will initiate the "jigsaw" session where you work with your team to prepare your section for presentation to the class. Start by working for about 30 minutes with your team, to answer each others' questions about the material, then plan your respective roles in sharing information with the class. All of you must take an active role in the small group presentation tommorrow, so come prepared today.

    5. After you have had time to consult with your team, get together with another team (1+2 and 3+4). Each team should spend about 15 minutes summarizing key information about their section of the text, and answering questions. This is a trial run for Tuesday's class.

    Visual aids can be very effective in conveying complicated concepts efficiently. Feel free to be creative about how to share your information.

    6. You will also listen to the other team present their summary. Ask good questions that came up for you when you skimmed their section of the text on the weekend. This will help them design a good presentation for tomorrow.

    7. Tuesday in class, each team will have about 30 minutes to present their section, complete with visual guides, and answer questions from the class. Zita will facilitate a synthesis of our understandings, try to answer outstanding questions, and lead us to the next step:  solving differential equations such as the ones Mechanics sets up from Newton's second law.

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