Learning Physics Through Programming
This unit will show you how to use programming in StarLogo TNG to help students build
a deep understanding of traditionally difficult physics concepts. We introduce StarLogo
TNG programming basics through a series of physics-based activities that will help you
and your students establish a relationship with TNG that will facilitate its use as a
teaching and learning tool.
We will focus on the topic of motion in two dimensions. Many strategies, including
simulations, have been designed to help students understand that the vertical and
horizontal motions of a projectile are independent of one another, but the concept of
simultaneous but independent change remains difficult and frustrating to teach and learn.
We will show you that by adding the programming of 2-D motion in a virtual world, to
the usual mathematical analysis of that motion in the physical world, you can enhance the
understanding of this difficult concept.
Physics At-A-Glance
Activity
Lesson Description
Materials
Learning Goals
VANTS
Students observe an object
(agent) in a simulation and
describe the rules that
determine the motion of
the object.
VANTS08.sltng
Introduce programming and
simulations.
VANTS08-4.sltng
VANTQUESTphys.doc
Code as a set of rules
Discover how simple rules
may be behind complexity.
Realize small changes may
have big effects.
Simple Physics
Games
Students find physics
principles in simple on line
games.
Computer
Simple Physics
Gameshs.doc
First
Programming
Students learn TNG basics
by building a procedure
that will earn them the
highest score.
First Program.sltng
StarLogo TNG 101
lesson 1_092008. ppt
First Programming
Activity-physics.doc
Modeling Change
Use keyboard control to
change at least two
variable agent traits.
ModelingChange.sltng
Modeling Change in
TNGhs08hs.doc
TNG Programming
Concepts/Blocks - models
Set up – Initial conditions
Consider the role of
simulations in science.
Understand that as
programmers write rules for
the behavior of objects in the
virtual world of the game,
scientists see the rules of
physics at work in the
physical world.
Continue introduction to
programming and
simulations.
Prepare kids to use
simulations, in general, and,
TNG, in particular as learning
tools.
Simultaneous and
Independent Change Kids
build programs where they
can change two agent
attributes independently and
at the same time
Iteration
VANTS code
Physics code in TNG may
be demonstrated
Building Code
Procedure as a set of
instructions.
Code for this activity
Keyboard control
Booleans
Key codepieces