Fall week 2 assignments

      Physical Systems 1998-99
      with E.J. Zita
    Check these daily. Assignments will change throughout the week. For example, Thursday's assignment will depend on what happens in Tuesday's class meeting.

    Reading for this week:

    • finish Sagan Ch.1-5, start Ch.6-10
    • finish Scientific Writing
    • finish Mechanics Ch.1, start Ch.2
    • start Grossman Ch.10 (differential equations) and Ch.3 (higher order derivatives) (3d edition)


    Monday      Tuesday      Wednesday      Thursday      Friday

    Monday: Overview:

      Prepare:
      • Read Chapters 1.1-1.7 in your Mechanics text, and 1-5 in Sagan's Demon Haunted World over the weekend, before you come to class.
      • Write a one-page response to the Sagan selection than elicits the strongest reaction from you.
      • Prepare the study guide for your section of the Mechanics text this weekend.  If you counted off #3 last Friday, for example, you are in Team 3, so you will be concentrating on Section 1.4:  Sport Parachuting.
      Do: When we meet this afternoon, we'll start with introductory logistics and then you'll split into working groups. Each group will prepare some material to present to the class tomorrow.

      Due:

      • Turn in your solution to the Limericks algebra homework you printed out last week.
      • Turn in your one-page response to Sagan before you leave, and bring a copy with you to class tomorrow morning.
    Tuesday morning: Overview: We'll discuss Demon-Haunted World with Matter and Motion. In addition to strengthening your critical thinking skills, this will also introduce you to students who are learning material that was prerequisite for Physical Systems. If you develop working relationships with M&M people, that will be a good opportunity for you to strengthen your understanding of basic physics and calculus.
      Prepare: You have already read Ch.1-5 of Sagan. Bring a copy of the response you turned in yesterday, for your own reference this morning.

      Do: Seminar with M&M, modeling the best seminaring skills you know. You might take this opportunity to initiate working relationships with M&M folks.

      Due: Post to Web Crossing a reflection on today's seminar's content, and perhaps also the process.

    Tuesday afternoon: Overview: One Dimensional Motion: Each team will discuss their section of Ch.1, and we'll develop a general understanding of the approaches together.
      Prepare: Read Ch.1.1-1.7 of Mechanics, and prepare your part of today's discussion with your team. Be ready to spend up to 30 minutes presenting your material to the class.

      Do: We'll work through class questions section by section, and get a start on homework if there's time. Due Thursday: BO 1-1, 1-6, 1-7, 1-10, 1-12, 1-14.

      Due: Hand in the learning guide you developed. Each team member, keep a copy for yourself.

    Wednesday: Overview: Attend the intermediate Web-authoring workshop (WAW#2). Make your homepage suit your purposes, for example, to serve as a record of your progress researching your project topics.

    Thursday: Overview: We'll start learning how to set up and solve differential equations

      Prepare: Read Grossman 10.1-3 (introduction to ordinary differential equations) and Ch.3.4 (second-order derivatives)

      Due at the beginning of class: Mechanics homework which was assigned on Tuesday. (Notice that answers are in the back of the book, so be sure to show your solutions completely, without skipping math steps, and with words discussing your strategy. As usual, do not assume that the text's answers are correct.)

    Friday: Overview: Choose the equipment you want to learn to work with. You will write a tutorial by the end of this quarter, and we'll learn each other's tutorials, plus the related physics, next quarter.
      Prepare: After your equipment treasure hunt last Friday, you will have followed up with investigations into the feasibility of doing your project, and you will have found a partner to work on it with you. Talk with class members to make sure there is not another team who wants to use the same equipment. If there's competition, discuss options and compromise. We'll all benefit by the class doing as many different projects as feasible.

      Do:

      • Meet your "equipment partner" to write up your proposal this afternoon, and email it to Zita (SUBJECT: OUR EQUIPMENT PROJECT) with both your email addresses.
      • Print out the study guidelines so you can work on your section of Mechanics Ch.2 over the weekend.
      Due by the end of the day:
      • email commiting to your project, with a brief plan of action and schedule
      • Post to web crossing your equipment project and team

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