The Usability of a Commercial Game Physics Engine to Develop Physics Educational Materials: an Investigation

Commercial computer games contain “physics engine” components, responsible for providing realistic interactions among game objects. The question naturally arises of whether these engines can be used to develop educational materials for high school and university physics education. To answer this question, the author's group recently conducted a detailed scientific investigation of the physics engine of Unreal Tournament 2004 (UT2004). This article presents their motivation, methodology, and results. The author presents the findings of experiments that probed the accessibility and fidelity of UT2004's physics engine, examples of educational materials developed, and an evaluation of their use in high school classes. The associated pedagogical implications of this approach are discussed, and the author suggests guidelines for educators on how to deploy the approach. Key resources are presented on an associated Web site.

Contribuições formativas do laboratório didático de física sob o enfoque das racionalidades

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Measurement of the magnetic field of small magnets with a smartphone: a very economical laboratory practice for introductory physics courses

In this work, we propose an inexpensive laboratory practice for an introductory physics course laboratory for any grade of science and engineering study. This practice was very well received by our students, where a smartphone (iOS, Android, or Windows) is used together with mini magnets (similar to those used on refrigerator doors), a 20 cm long school rule, a paper, and a free application (app) that needs to be downloaded and installed that measures magnetic fields using the smartphone's magnetic field sensor or magnetometer. The apps we have used are: Magnetometer (iOS), Magnetometer Metal Detector, and Physics Toolbox Magnetometer (Android). Nothing else is needed. Cost of this practice: free. The main purpose of the practice is that students determine the dependence of the component x of the magnetic field produced by different magnets (including ring magnets and sphere magnets). We obtained that the dependency of the magnetic field with the distance is of the form x-3, in total agreement with the theoretical analysis. The secondary objective is to apply the technique of least squares fit to obtain this exponent and the magnetic moment of the magnets, with the corresponding absolute error.

Poster presentation as a report of a self-designed laboratory experiment : a case study

Julkaisumaa: 203 CZ CZE Tšekki

Protótipo de uma atividade experimental para o estudo da cinemática realizada remotamente

Este artigo apresenta uma avaliação de um protótipo relativo a um experimento de cinemática que pode ser controlado remotamente via internet. Para tanto, utilizamos microcontroladores da família PIC, visando controlar a velocidade de carrinhos de brinquedo. O intuito foi investigar a possibilidade de se construir um laboratório de Ensino de Física totalmente controlado remotamente com vistas a apoiar cursos de formação inicial e continuada de professores ministrados a distância. A avaliação do protótipo foi realizada por 15 alunos de um curso presencial de Graduação em Física, no âmbito da disciplina de Instrumentação para o Ensino da Física. Os resultados apontam para a viabilidade da utilização desse recurso.

The teacher and the reading skills report for migrant students /

"The material in this publication was prepared pursuant to a contract with the National Institute of Education, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare."

Career and vocational development of bilingual students /

Supported by the National Institute of Education, U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, under contract no. NIE-C-400-76-0122.

Evaluation of the TEAM Train-the-Trainer Program. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Planar vibrations of chlorinated benzenes,

Mode of access: Internet.

Frequency-modulation oscillator cavity system for synchrotron acceleration in the Illinois 300 MeV betatron,

Mode of access: Internet.

Synchrotron resonator for the Illinois 300-MeV betatron.

Mode of access: Internet.