The University of Maryland Computer Tutorials in Physics

University of Maryland Physics Education Research Group

The University of Maryland Computer Tutorials in Physics

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University of Maryland Computer Tutorials in Physics

The Physics Education Research Group at the University of Maryland has developed a series of tutorials for introductory calculus-based physics using M.U.P.P.E.T. and other programs from Physics Academic Software.

These tutorials are meant to be used in a group learning environment in which 2-4 students work together at one computer. They are meant to discuss and answer the questions in the tutorials among themselves. It is useful to have a facilitator (a grad student or faculty member) who is available to answer questions and to initiate discussions on tricky points.

It is best if the facilitators do NOT answer questions directly, or lead the students through the reasoning. The method works better if the facilitators engage in a "pseudo-Socratic dialog" by asking leading questions and then letting the students work out the answers for themselves.

This method is discussed in a number of papers in the literature, including:

Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part I: Investigation of student understanding
L. C. McDermott and P. S. Shaffer
Am. J. Phys. 60 (1992) 994; erratum, ibid. 61 (1993) 81.
Socratic pedagogy in the introductory physics laboratory
R. Hake
The Physics Teacher 30 (1992) 546.
The classic method of Mrs. Socrates
Robert A. Morse
The Physics Teacher 32 (1994) 276.
The Classic Socratic Method
Plato
The Physics Teacher 32 (May, 1994) 138.

Computer Based Tutorials

All of the tutorials below exist and have been tested with students. Those highlighted in blue may be obtained with a click of the mouse. Those not highlighted have not yet been translated to HTML. Watch this space for further developments!

Mechanics

Instantaneous Velocity
Newton's Third Law
Air Resistance

Oscillations and Waves

The Simple Harmonic Oscillator
The Pendulum
Pulses
Standing Waves

Electricity and Magnetism

The Electric Force*
The Electric Potential*
Ampere's Law*

* Uses EMField by D. Trowbridge and B. Sherwood from Physics Academic Software

Quantum Mechanics

Bound States
The Shape of the Wave Function

Comments and suggestions on the tutorials are most welcome and should be sent by e-mail to the author (below).

Some Links:

UMd PERG HomePage

MUPPET HomePage

UMd Computers in Physics Education HomePage

Physics Academic Software HomePage

The M.U.P.P.E.T. Utilities is available from Physics Academic Software (phone 1-800-955-TASL for information or orders).
Edward F. Redish
Jack M. Wilson
Ian D. Johnston

This page prepared 25. March 1995 by
Edward F. Redish
Department of Physics
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-6120
Email: redish@quark.umd.edu