The Humanized Physics Project Web Site: A Resource for Instructors of the IPLS Course
Robert G. Fuller1, Nancy Beverly2, and Christopher D. Wentworth3
(1) Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rfuller@neb.rr.com
(2) School of Health and Natural Sciences
Sciences, Mercy College
College, nbeverly@mercy
nbeverly@mercy.edu
edu
(3) Department of Physics, Doane College, chris.wentworth@doane.edu
Multimedia Resources
Introduction
Studies in Motion Laser Disc
The introductory physics for life science
course serves a diverse student population
which differs in many ways from the student
population of the introductory course for
physical science and engineering students.
The career interests, gender representation,
and class all differ significantly between the
two populations. We believe curriculum
materials tailored for the life and health
p
for best serving
g
science students are important
this population.
The Studies in Motion interactive laserdisc was a Corporation for Public Broadcasting/Annenberg
School of Communications project published in 1983
1983, which used video clips of human motion in an
interactive laserdisc format to facilitate teaching of introductory college physics. The clips included
ballet, gymnastics, and diving events as subject matter. All of the clips have been digitized and made
available on the project web site. The original instructional activities are being edited for use in the
new digital environment.
Figure 1. Home page for the HPP web site.
One model for the design of the IPLS sequence we have used for several years is to make the human body the
context for learning physics. Everyday activities such as walking, running, and jumping provide opportunities
for introducing and using introductory kinematics and dynamics concepts. Understanding how the circulation
system works requires using all the usual fluid statics and dynamics concepts. The human vocal system is a
rich context for learning about oscillations and wave phenomena. Human vision provides significant exposure
to geometrical and physical optics and even elementary quantum theory.
We have developed or adapted activities and multimedia resources that aid in learning most topics in the
traditional IPLS sequence using the human body theme. These resources have been used for both traditionally
formatted courses and for workshop/studio style courses. All of these resources are available through the
Humanized Physics Project web site.
Activity Library
The web site contains a library of 60 classroom tested activities appropriate to introductory college courses.
These activities include labs appropriate for traditional lecture/lab courses and many lab/discussion activities
designed for workshop/studio format courses. Activities were designed using the Karplus Learning Cycle and
also with an emphasis on using a structured approach to developing mathematical modeling skills in
students. Each activity is indexed by physics topic and by human body topic. Course outlines showing how
these activities were organized for use in actual courses are also provided.
Figure 3. Ballet sequence from Studies in Motion Laserdisc
Web Version.
Understanding Human Motion CD
Figure 4. A subject wearing reflective spheres running in the
Chapin Gait Analysis Lab. Right panel shows the detected
spheres
h
on the
th subject
bj t andd the
th geometry
t for
f data
d t collection.
ll ti
This CD was originally published in 2004 and contained video clips and force/kinematic data of
many human motions obtained at the Chapin Gait and Motion Laboratory in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Each motion has a video clip of the subject, an animation showing each sensor and the force as
functions of time (Figure 5), a spreadsheet with all sensor data (Figure 6), and an animation
showing contrails of the sensor motion (Figure 7). All the media and numerical data are now
available on the HPP web site.
Figure 5. Animation showing net floor force vector on runner using
motion data from the Understanding Human Motion CD.
Fuller3 Textbook
The textbook Physics Including Human Applications, by
Harold Q Fuller, Richard M. Fuller, and Robert G. Fuller,
was originally published in 1978. Each chapter of the
book , the original lab manual, student study guide, and
instructor’s guide will be available on the HPP web site in
pdf
df fformatt ffor use bby college
ll
physics
h i students
t d t andd
instructors.
Figure 7. Contrails animation for the runner displayed
in Figure 5.
Figure 2. Title page for the electronic version
of Physics Including Human Applications
textbook.
Figure 6. Force and foot position data for the
motion shown in Figure 5.
Curriculum materials and multimedia available at project website:
www.doane.edu/hpp/