Teaching Frames of Reference Using
PowerPoint Animations
R. ColeEvansville High School
Clem’s Datax y
Time Distance
(s) (m)
0.42 2.89
0.62 3.56
0.82 4.16
1.03 4.77
1.15 5.07
1.42 5.96
1.66 6.61
First: Choose a scale for the x-axis that spreads the points over at least half of the page.
It also helps to keep the number spacing along the
axis simple.
Next: Do the same thing for the y-axis.
Be sure the points cover at least half of the page.
Label the axis.Be sure to include your units! Here, Clem is using meters for
Distance and seconds for Time.
There’s a good spot, right there.
Now my graph looks like this.
Now my graph looks like this.
The “trick” is that most people wouldn’t think of using substitution in this instance.
We usually think of using substitution when solving complex equations.
y = k
1
x
V = k
1
P
y = a x + b
Substitution? Really?
Solving for the slope and intercept, then replacing the generic x and y with V and 1/P gives us the equation of the correct relationship.
It’s Linear!
V = (16.3 Latm) + (0.1 L)
1
P
(? mg) = (1.35 cg) 1 x 10-2 g 1 mg 1 1 cg 1 x 10-3 g(
)()
Cancel the units. Make sure they cancel out they way you expected them to.
If the units aren’t correct, they are telling you something’s wrong, even before you do the math.
Two-Step Conversions
= 13.5 mg
Listen to your units!
“How many milligrams (mg) are in 1.35 centigrams (cg)?”
(? mg) = (1.35 cg) 1 x 10-2 g 1 mg 1 1 cg 1 x 10-3 g(
)()
Now you can do the math with confidence that the problem was correctly set up.
Once you find the final answer, place a box around it.
Two-Step Conversions
= 13.5 mg
“How many milligrams (mg) are in 1.35 centigrams (cg)?”
(? mg) = (1.35 cg) 1 x 10-2 g 1 mg 1 1 cg 1 x 10-3 g(
)()
“How many milligrams (mg) are in 1.35 centigrams (cg)?”
You are officially
done!
Two-Step Conversions
= 13.5 mg
Presenting the Problem
Use the starting drawings below, or create your own, and use a movie-maker type program to create a stop-action video similar to the one you can view at 3_Scenes.swf . You can group and ungroup objects so they can move and rotate together or independently.
I broke the video into two scenes: one before and one after the trap door opens. I also “saved” the objects I would need later on the first page, where I could find them.
Easy step sequences: Rotate to move C3PO into Dr. Eloc’s location or one (half?) an arrow’s length.
Here’s what I got:
1
2
3
Bwa-ha-ha-haaa!So long, Oh-Golden-One!
3
4
5?
Exam Question
Oops!
Here’s what I got:
1
2
3
4
Teaching Frames of Reference Using
PowerPoint Animations
R. ColeEvansville High School
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