A Step Forward in Kinesthetic Activities for Teaching Kinematics in Introductory Physics

Authors

Zachary Dale, Portland State University
Paul R. DeStefano, Portland State UniversityFollow
Lori Shaaban, Portland State University
Cora Siebert, Portland State UniversityFollow
Ralf Widenhorn, Portland State UniversityFollow

Published In

American Journal of Physics

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

10-1-2020

Abstract

We present a set of kinesthetic activities that utilize a local positioning system to teach kinematics in the physics classroom or laboratory. The activities build on previously reported activities in scope and complexity, incorporating two-dimensional motion and the simultaneous motions of multiple bodies. In these activities, students act out motions illustrated in graphs of kinematic quantities while holding a local positioning system device that tracks their position. Students are able to watch the data as they are graphed in real-time. These activities provide a kinesthetic experience of kinematics by allowing students to analyze their own movement rather than just the movement of specialized laboratory equipment.

Description

© 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.

Locate the Document

https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001617

DOI

10.1119/10.0001617

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/34088

Citation Details

Dale, Z., DeStefano, P. R., Shaaban, L., Siebert, C., & Widenhorn, R. (2020). A step forward in kinesthetic activities for teaching kinematics in introductory physics. American Journal of Physics, 88(10), 825–830. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001617