Learning science requires much more than just learning science. -- Joe Heafner
Every course you take is the most important course you take. -- Joe Heafner
In my introductory physics courses, I have discovered that simple activities can be more useful than laboratory experiments. Traditional experiments use equipment that is expensive and prone to malfunctions. Traditional experiments also often require more intellectual capability than has been developed in the other components of the course. The result is that traditional experiments do practically nothing to help students understand basic physics. Why continue to use them?
On this page, I will describe materials that I have developed and tested in my own courses. I will never release a resource that has not been classroom tested. I will always welcome contructive ctiricism and feedback on my materials.
For convenience, all materials on this page are available from the download page.
LaTeX Package
I have created a LaTeX package called mandi which defines over two hundred commands for typesetting documents in introductory physics and astronomy. You can download a zip file that contains the package along with some rudimentary documentation. I assume you know how to install LaTeX packages on your computer.
LaTeXiT Library
I have created a growing collection of equations using LaTeXiT, a fantastic free program (Mac only!) that lets me build libraries of frequently used LaTeX expressions.
Physics Course Syllabi
Coming soon!
Physics Course Daily Logs
Coming soon!
Handouts
Coming soon!
MiniLabs/Activities
These activities are designed to promote critical thinking by getting students to actively engaged in scientific reasoning. They can be used as interactive classroom discussions or as directed minilabs. They incorporate a heavy writing component. While created specifically for my own college courses, there's absolutely no reason at all why creative and competent kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school science teachers cannot adapt these activities to other grade levels. I would appreciate knowing if anyone does this.
Introduction to 3D Vectors
This activity introduces students to three dimensional vectors using simple measurements of the relative positions of tables in a classroom (or any other room for that matter). It also introduces the concept of an invariant, a quantity that is the same in every coordinate system. An underlying goal is to set the stage for relativistic concepts presented later on.
Problem Solution Template
This template is intended to develop the general thought processes needed for working physics problems. It certainly is not applicable to every problem in every course, but it emphasizes the approach I take in my Matter & Interactions courses.