OMGOMGOMG, the air tracks came in yesterday! I've only been working since 2004 to try and get these things! I've got physics lab this afternoon; we're going to unpack and possibly assemble them. *bounces*
It's a long track on which you can place carts for experiments about acceleration and collisions. What makes it better than carts with wheels is the air - the surface is like an air hockey table, so that the carts glide atop a cushion of air with very little friction.
Congrats! Your students and department are so spoiled to have you :) .
Btw, I, too, didn't know what an air track was, so I was very glad someone raised their hand. Dunno if I've sent this to you already, but this really wowed me when I saw it:
I have heard of software like that (and of smart boards), but I have never had the chance to play with them myself. If I were to ever teach physics online I'd probably have to use something like that for online labs, and I'm curious whether it would be an "equivalent" experience for the students to do it that way.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-09-06 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 02:32 pm (UTC)http://store.pasco.com/pascostore/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&PartNumber=SF-9214&Detail=1
It's a long track on which you can place carts for experiments about acceleration and collisions. What makes it better than carts with wheels is the air - the surface is like an air hockey table, so that the carts glide atop a cushion of air with very little friction.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 04:59 pm (UTC)Btw, I, too, didn't know what an air track was, so I was very glad someone raised their hand. Dunno if I've sent this to you already, but this really wowed me when I saw it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZNTgglPbUA
no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 05:08 pm (UTC)