Learning physics by experiment: IV. Kinematics

The trajectory of a ball in sports settings provides extensive opportunities for students to see how principles from physics can be applied to a familiar activity. Advanced equations[1] in mechanics are employed in this research to design an investigation of the relationship between launch speed and launch angle under a variety of circumstances, such as launch height and distance from target. Students are not given access to these theoretical results because they are unduly cumbersome; instead, students identify launch outcomes solely on an empirical basis. Data from such laboratory experiments are high in quality even in the absence of any numerical context, and students report that they are not concerned about the latter because they enjoy the freedom of exploring without constraint. Other educational benefits include a relaxed learning environment and enthusiastic communication between students. Such advantages are further validation of the pedagogy that has been applied to multiple topics[2-7] with considerable success.

[1] *.2017.APR.H2.7; [2] *.2010.APR.Z11.7; [3] http://www.aapt.org/AbstractSearch/FullAbstract.cfm?KeyID=17763; [4] *.2012.APR.J15.8; [5] *.2014.APR.D1.50; [6] *.2018.APR.F1.7 (?); [7] Bull Am Phys Soc, Vol 64 (in press) {* http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS}