Miami University Physics
Education Project
This effort deals with a
revamping of the introductory physics course to include more modern topics.
It entails 10 weeks of Newtonian mechanics from constant acceleration problems
to waves, then 5 weeks of quantum mechanics, finishing with the infinite
square well. The second semester involves 5 weeks of statistical physics
and thermodynamics, 8 weeks of electromagnetism (with circuits done in
the labs), and 2 weeks of special and general relativity. The motivation
is to introduce more modern topics to hold the interest of physics majors,
as well as more broadly educate the 96% of students in an introductory
physics course that will never take another physics course. This project
has been funded by the National Science Foundation Curriculum and Course
Development program.
Other Web sites for Miami
efforts in Physics Education
Materials available upon
request.
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"X-days in the Calculus
Based Introductory Course". P. R. Rice, J. E. Poth, D. F. Griffing, D.
Kelly, S. D. Marcum, and J. Priest, The Physics Teacher 32,
178-181 (1994).
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Miami University Physics
Education Project, NSF Project Kaliedoscope meeting on introductory physics,
hosted at Miami University, spring 1996. T. Houk, G. Julian, S. D. Marcum,
J. Poth, J. Priest, P. Rice, J. Yarrison-Rice, and P. Scholten.
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"Special Relativity", P.
R. Rice and S. D. Marcum, handbook of special relativity for introductory
physics courses.
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"Statistical Mechanics",
P. R. Rice and S. D. Marcum, handbook of statistical physics for introductory
physics courses.
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"Boltzmann's Vision",
handbook of statistical physics for introductory physics courses, P. R.
Rice,S.D. Marcum, D. Kelly, and G. Julian.
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"MUPEP: Compilation
of teaching materials from PHY 191-2" A collection of various materials
used in the introductory physics sequence since the inception of the project,
including syllabi, exams and quizzes, supplemental materials, and student
evaluations, as well as an overall description. This was prepared as part
of NSF funded external review of the program.
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Education