Vincent Santarelli DUE 9455282 Rutgers The State University FY1995 $ 447,189 Newark Campus Course and Curriculum Newark, NJ 07102 Physics Title: Innovative Introductory Physics Laboratory Course An Innovative Introductory Physics Laboratory Course at Rutgers-Newark is designed to improve the understanding and appreciation of the laws of physics, and of the instrumentation and methods of modern physics and technology. The course which uses transducers interfaced to microcomputers will be further developed and expanded during the period of the present proposal, and the results adapted for and shared with a diverse population of high school teachers and their students and 2 year college faculty and students. The makeup of the Rutgers-Newark student body and the geography and demographics of the Newark area, coupled with significant outreach efforts, ensures a large minority student participation in this project. Teaching and learning strategies geared to the needs of a diverse urban student population will be developed. These strategies will utilize non intimidating but rigorous discovery based and goal oriented experiments and will provide a meaningful and accurate introduction to the excitement and creativity of scientific discovery and analysis. The course will develop and use modern sensors for motion, force, temperature, sound and electromagnetic field measurements. The sensors are interfaced to microcomputers, allowing the students to acquire data and analyze their measurements rapidly in order to explore alternative physical hypotheses. The project will attract more students into physics and engineering, and will produce better educated students with critical analytical skills in all majors.
