more brainstorming

notes from a recent meeting with Evan, Tom, and Nelson:

idea: concepts building on each other

encoder --> potentiometer
motor
pendulum mounted from a linear stage (too complicated?)


it's important to isolate physics concepts without too much technical stuff.  more technical stuff --> more chance of technical issues --> less chance of a physics concept being driven home to student.

where in the U.S. (or world) are the most interesting and creative freshman physics labs being done?


quantity comparisons -- e.g. power from a solar cell

tripping a circuit (evan)

integrate with ME, MET, FET tracks.  hardware/software..

2 pt vs 4 pt measurement

kappa/sigma -- measure each/

tom: will forward labs used in instrumentation

goerge weissensides -- how to write a journal publication  (??? could not find... evan?)

tom thinks it might be a good idea to have students write a lab report, or at least an abstract.

idea: potentiometer


we plan to meet with mike holden and ask about his experiences with microcontrollers (arduinos specifically?) and education.

PHY is the foundation of many students' experiences.

some senior design projects seemed ambitious.

lab idea -- characterize several unknown materials.

ohm's law, fourier's law, voltage, temperature

student competitions: rally challenge, john rogers -- cal sailing team robot


john fisher