Teaching the Physics of energy while traveling by train

• Autores: Katrina Hay
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 51, Nº. 2, 2013, pág. 83
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) is renowned for the number of its courses that offer international and study-away opportunities. Inspired by the theme of sustainability, and my growing concern about the environmental impact of conventional fuels, I offered a course, Physics of Energy, for the first time during PLU's January 2011 term (a one-month semester). The two-week travel portion of the course took students on the Amtrak Coast Starlight train route from Tacoma, WA, to Los Angeles to study various forms of energy production. Students studied physics topics in the classroom, through hands-on activities, by traveling to energy research and production facilities, and while working on their interdisciplinary term projects. The course, which utilized local talent and focused on sustainability, provided a positive physics learning experience for majors and non-majors alike.