Workshop Physics Activity Guide, Module 2: Mechanics II

The Workshop Physics Activity Guide is a set ofstudent workbooks designed to serve as the foundation for atwo-semester calculus-based introductory physics course. Itconsists of 28 units that interweave text materials with activitiesthat include prediction, qualitative observation, explanation,equation derivation, mathematical modeling, quantitativeexperiments, and problem solving. Students use a powerful set ofcomputer tools to record, display, and analyze data, as well as todevelop mathematical models of physical phenomena. The design ofmany of the activities is based on the outcomes of physicseducation research.

The Workshop Physics Activity Guide is supportedby an Instructor’s Website that: (1) describes the historyand philosophy of the Workshop Physics Project; (2) provides adviceon how to integrate the Guide into a variety of educationalsettings; (3) provides information on computer tools (hardware andsoftware) and apparatus; and (4) includes suggested homeworkassignments for each unit.  Log on to the Workshop PhysicsProject website at http://physics.dickinson.edu/

Workshop Physics is a component of the PhysicsSuite––a collection of materials created by a groupof educational reformers known as the Activity Based PhysicsGroup. The Physics Suite contains a broad array ofcurricular materials that are based on physics education research,including:

• Understanding Physics, by Cummings, Laws, Redish andCooney (an introductory textbook based on the best-selling text byHalliday/Resnick/Walker)
• RealTime Physics Laboratory Modules
• Physics by Inquiry (intended for use in aworkshop setting)
• Interactive Lecture Demonstration
• Tutorials in Introductory Physics
• Activity Based Tutorials (designed primarily for use inrecitations)