Constructing Ideas in Physical Science

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Constructing Ideas in Physical Science
CIPS Institute for Middle School Science Teachers

• Joan Abdallah , AAAS
• Darcy Hampton, DCPS
• Davina Pruitt-Mentle, University of Maryland

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Session 1 Debriefing

• What do you remember from yesterdays session (no
  peeking at text or notes)
• What were the essential questions being
  asked/explored
• What conclusions did we decide

3
Deeper Questions

• What deeper questions could you envision students
  asking?
• What misconceptions or misinterpretations can you
  foresee?
• How or what would you say?

4
Deeper Questions or Possible Misinterpretations

• The longer the length of the pendulum the longer
  time it takes, because it has a longer distance
  to travel

What would you say?
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Pendulum Explanation
The period of motion of the simple pendulum
is T2??(l/g) Therefore, the period is
independent of angle and mass it is only a
function of length
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GALILEOS TWO PRINCIPLES FOR THE PENDULUM

• For a pendulum with a given length, the time of
  each oscillation
• is unchanged regardless of the amplitude (how far
  it swings). The term
• isochronism (equal time-ness) was formulated to
  describe this property.
• To reduce the period (time of isolation) for the
  pendulum, it is necessary to reduce the length of
  the pendulum in the following proportion
• To double the rate of oscillation, reduce the
  length to ¼ the original length.
• To triple the oscillation, reduce the length to
  1/9 the original length.
• Stated mathematically, the number of oscillations
  in a given period of time varies inversely with
  the square root of the length of the pendulum.
• Nosc K /?L
• where Nosc Number of Oscillations L
  Length of Pendulum K Constant

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For a fixed length - as the angle increases,
the period does not change because gravity causes
a faster initial acceleration which exactly
compensates for the increased distance (more
gravity forces the mass downward at the higher
the angle less force is along the direction of
the string) For a fixed angle - Initial
acceleration is independent of length. However,
a longer string has a longer arc to travel and
therefore takes longer.
?
Fmg cos(?)
Fmg sin(?)
Fmg
Fmg sin(?)
Same arc as above
Fmg cos(?)
Fmg
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Want To Learn More?

• Science Activities with the Pendulum
• How Pendulum Clocks Work
• Galileo's Pendulum Experiments
• The pendulum lab
• Internet Science Institute Pendulum Lab
• Pendulum History Overview
• Swing Set Playground Physics
• FSEA Pendulum Project
• Science NetLinks (AAAS) try the Applet and
  simulation

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Connection to Literacy

• Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849. The Pit and the
  Pendulum Electronic Text Center, University of
  Virginia Library
• Student interpretation

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(No Transcript)
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Scientifically Based ResearchConnection to
Experimental Design
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No Child Left Behind Act

• Requires programs and practices to be based on
  research.
• The term, "scientifically based research
  programs," appears throughout the law from
  reading to teacher professional development to
  supplemental education services to
  anti-drug-abuse programs.

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Mandate Raises Questions

• Regarding definition, enforcement and the quality
  of existing education research.
• Despite reservations and concerns, the insistence
  on using "what works1 could prompt discussion,
  debate and action, and ultimately lead to better
  teaching and learning in classrooms across the
  country.

From ECS Resource site
1 must be based on research studies that meet
scientific standards. Government publicity
materials (see www.nochildleftbehind.gov) refer
to this as doing what works.
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The Term Scientifically Based Research (SBR)

• Means research that involves the application of
  rigorous, systematic and objective procedures to
  obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to
  education activities and programs and
• includes research that
• Employs systematic, empirical methods that draw
  on observation or experiment
• Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate
  to test the stated hypotheses and justify the
  general conclusions drawn
• Relies on measurements or observational methods
  that provide reliable and valid data across
  evaluators and observers, across multiple
  measurements and observations, and across studies
  by the same or different investigators

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SBR cont.

• Includes research that
• Is evaluated using experimental or
  quasi-experimental designs in which individuals,
  entities, programs or activities are assigned to
  different conditions and with appropriate
  controls to evaluate the effects of the condition
  of interest, with a preference for
  random-assignment experiments, or other designs
  to the extent that those designs contain
  within-condition or across-condition controls
• Ensures experimental studies are presented in
  sufficient detail and clarity to allow for
  replication or, at a minimum, offer the
  opportunity to build systematically on their
  findings
• Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or
  approved by a panel of independent experts
  through a comparably rigorous, objective and
  scientific review."

More on the lingo
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Huh?
The following principles define scientific
quality

• Use of the scientific method with an emphasis on
  experimental control (or comparison) groups
• Replication of results, using multiple studies by
  different investigators
• Ability to generalize results from one sample to
  other children in the general population
• Fulfillment of rigorous standards with an
  emphasis on peer review
• Convergence (or consistency) of results between
  studies

From Doing What Works Scientifically Based
Research in Education
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Class Activity

• Go to and read What the Words mean
• http//www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A4684.cfm
  
• What parts can be applied to students
  experimental design

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Class Activity

• Battery Power
• WHICH TILE CLEANER REMOVES SOAP SCUM THE BEST
• The Science of Water
• What Can Affect Ones Perception of Sound
• Why does junior tennis have such a high injury
  rate?

Judge these using the rubric provided
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More Fun

• A Science Fair How Not to Guide
• http//www.wcsscience.com/scienceexperiment/guide.
  html
•  Montykins
• http//www.montykins.com/mkins/000620.html
•  Bogus Entries are Fair Game
• http//www.gsdsef.org/pdfs/mar30Article01.pdf