Session: |
Integrating Computers and
Demonstrations/Equipment |
Meeting: |
123rd AAPT National Meeting:
Rochester, NY |
Location: |
Highland D, Convention Ctr. |
Date: |
7/23/01 |
Time: |
7:30 a.m. |
Author: |
Dean A. Zollman, Kansas
State Univ.
785-532-1619,
dzollman@phys.ksu.edu |
Co-Author(s): |
Kirsten Hogg |
Abstract:
|
When students perform an
experiment in atomic and nuclear physics, the emphasis is on
understanding what is happening at an atomic or subatomic level. They
cannot see what is "really happening," so we must help them build models
of the events. While these models can help students understand the
physics, they are somewhat abstract and can cause difficulty for
students. We have been combining real experiments, virtual versions of
the same experiments, and visualizations of models for the underlying
physics. Several of the experiments are some of the historically
important ones in 20th century physics; others include modeling of
effects in light emitting devices. Experiments that have been coupled to
visualizations include energy models for atomic spectra, photoelectric
effect, Zeeman effect, and the behavior of a glow-in-the-dark toothbrush
when dipped in liquid nitrogen. |
Footnotes:
|
*Supported by NSF grants
#ESI-945782 and #DUE-965288. |
|