Wiley College: McDermott

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PHYSICS BY INQUIRY

LILLIAN C. MCDERMOTT, University of Washington
ISBN: 0-471-54870-7, 1202 Pages, Cloth, 1996
Volume One (Modules 1-5) ISBN: 0-471-14440-1
Volume Two (Modules 6-10) ISBN: 0-471-14441-X

Description:

Physics by Inquiry provides a step-by-step introduction to physics and the physical sciences. In working through these laboratory-based modules, students gain direct experience with the process of science. The emphasis is on discovering rather than on memorizing. Starting from their own observations, students construct physical concepts and simple scientific models. A major goal is to help students develop scientific reasoning skills and learn to relate concepts, representations, and models to real world phenomena.
Physics by Inquiry is designed for use with a wide range of students. It is particularly appropriate for preparing el-hi teachers to teach science as a process of inquiry. The modules are also effective with students who need to strengthen their science and mathematics background (possibly in a prep-physics course) before taking mainstream science course.
For liberal arts students, Physics by Inquiry helps establish a sound foundation for the building of scientific literacy. The Modular structure of the volumes allow for use in courses ranging from one academic quarter, to over one year in length.
Lillian C. McDermott, recipient of the Millikan Lecture Award, is a professor of physics and director of the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington. The group has a world-wide reputation for outstanding contributions to research on the learning and teaching of physics.
The results of that research and more than 20 years of teaching experience have guided the development of Physics by Inquiry. The modules have been extensively tested at the University of Washington and at other colleges and universities.
Physics by Inquiry consists of three volumes. Volume I develops fundamental concepts and basic reasoning skills essential for the physical sciences. The material in Volume II provides a foundation for the study of introductory physics. The authors are also working on a third volume, which will introduce additional topics from the standard introductory physics course.

Features:

The narrative helps students formulate explanations but, unlike a conventional text, does not provide all the necessary information and reasoning. There are gaps that must be bridged by the students.
Experiments and exercises, which appear throughout the text, provide the context in which most of the learning that takes place.
Supplementary problems at the end of each module provide additional practice in applying physical concepts and scientific reasoning skills.

Supplements:

INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL
0-471-30852-8
Suggests how the materials can be most effectively used with different student populations. Helps the instructor anticipate student difficulties, to provide information about the equipment. Describes the demonstrations referred to in the text. Conveys the purpose of unusual exercises and experiments.

Modules

VOLUME I:

Part A: Measurements of matter...Mass
...Principles of balancing...Measurements of mass...Uncertainty...Operational definitions...Volume...Changes in mass and volume...Distinguishing between mass and volume
Part B: Pure substances...Proportional reasoning with mass and volume...Density... Measurements of densities...Sinking and floating
Part C: Scientific representations... Graphing mass and volume...Interpreting algebraic expressions...Interpreting the equal sign...Reasoning by analogy
Part D: Solutions of solids in water...Dissolving in water ...Concentration of solutions...Changes in concentration...Measurements of concentration...Saturation of solutions...Applications of analogies...Applications of proportional reasoning
Part E: Solutions of solids, liquids, and gases...Solutions of liquids in liquids ...Solvents other than water...Solutions of gases in liquids...Extracting solutes from solutions

Part A: Measurements of heat and temperature...Temperature... in temperature...Heat and heat transfer
Part B: Thermal properties of matter ...Heat capacity and specific heat... Distinguishing between heat capacity and specific heat...Proportional reasoning with heat and temperature...Phase changes...Heat in everyday life

Part A: Light and shadows...Introduction to light...Light sources, masks, and screens... Pinhole cameras...Shadows
Part B: Pigments and colored light...Pigments...Colored light...Pigments under colored light

Part A: Behavior of magnets...Magnetic interactions...The parts of a magnet...The earth as a magnet...Comparing the strengths of magnets...Breaking and stacking magnets...
Part B: Magnetic materials...Magnetic fields...Magnetic field mapping...Making magnets...A model for magnetic materials

...Sun shadows...Observing changes in the sky
...The size and shape of the earth...Daily motion of the sun...Phases of the moon...Daily motion of the stars...Describing locations on the earth... Celestial clocks and calendars

VOLUME II:

Part A: Behavior of simple electric circuits ...Single-bulb circuits...A model for electric current...Extending the model for electric current...Series and parallel networks
Part B: Measurements of current and resistance ...Kirchhoff's first rule...Equivalent resistance
Part C: Measurement of voltage...Multiple batteries...Kirchhoff's second rule...Series and parallel decomposition...Ohm's law
Part D: Batteries and bulbs in everyday life...Real batteries...Energy and power

...Magnetic field of a current-carrying wire ...Making magnets with a current-carrying wire ...Building motors

Part A: Plane mirrors and images ...Introduction to reflection...Image formation in a plane mirror...Multiple images
Part B: Lenses, curved mirrors, and images ...Introduction to refraction...Law of refraction: Snell's law...Examples of refraction in everyday life...Image formation by convex lenses
...Image formation and ray diagrams...Image formation and the thin lens equation...Image formation by concave lenses...Image formation by curved mirrors...Optical instruments

Part A: Motion with constant speed...Uniform motion...Quantitative descriptions of positions and times
Part B: Motion with changing speed...Introduction to non-uniform motion
...Changing velocity...Acceleration
Part C: Graphical representations of motion...Motion and graphs...Curved graphs...Graphs and actual motions...Rates and graphs...The concept of acceleration
Part D: Algebraic representations of motion...Interpreting algebraic equations ...Determining displacement for uniformly accelerated motion...Finding the area under a graph...Calculating averages...Relating graphs to algebraic equations...Solving problems in kinematics

The celestial sphere...Annual motion of the sun and stars: a geocentric model...Annual motion of the sun and stars: a heliocentric model...The seasons...The planets