A useful demonstration of calculus in a physics high school laboratory

The real power of calculus is revealed when it is applied to actual physical problems. In this paper, we present a calculus inspired physics experiment suitable for high school and undergraduate programs. A model for the theory of the terminal velocity of a falling body subject to a resistive force...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysics education Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 15006 - 15011
Main Authors Alvarez, Gustavo, Schulte, Jurgen, Stockton, Geoffrey, Wheeler, David
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Brecon IOP Publishing 2018
Institute of Physics Publishing
Subjects
Active Learning
Calculus
Classical mechanics
College Science
Eddy currents
Electromagnetism
Energy
Falling bodies
High Schools
Kinematics
Laboratory Experiments
Magnets
Mechanics (Physics)
Motion
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Science Laboratories
Scientific Concepts
Secondary School Mathematics
Secondary School Science
Student Projects
Terminal velocity
Undergraduate Study
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Summary:The real power of calculus is revealed when it is applied to actual physical problems. In this paper, we present a calculus inspired physics experiment suitable for high school and undergraduate programs. A model for the theory of the terminal velocity of a falling body subject to a resistive force is developed and its validity tested in an experiment of a falling magnet in a column of self-induced eddy currents. The presented method combines multiple physics concepts such as 1D kinematics, classical mechanics, electromagnetism and non-trivial mathematics. It offers the opportunity for lateral as well as project-based learning.
Bibliography:PED-101171.R1
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0031-9120
1361-6552
DOI:10.1088/1361-6552/aa8a7f