Final Project – Bringing It All Together
What we are doing
We have now discussed a lot of different topics:
- Entropy
- Energy
, 
, and 
.- Forces.
We have also explored a lot of different tools:
- Converting situations into mathematical representations.
- Reading mathematical representations.
- Working with mathematical representations (so-called analytical methods).
- Making and interpreting graphical representations.
- Building simulations of motion.
Moreover, in lab, you have developed some additional skills:
- Thinking about data.
- Making inferences.
- Presenting results in a poster.
Now, we can have some fun and attack that second part of physics, “using the fundamental rules to learn something new.” That is what we will be doing in this project: you will choose some data from one of the following situations and then use everything we have discussed in this class to learn something new.
How This Will Work
During the final period your team will present a poster like you have done in lab. The poster will detail your situation and what you have learned. In this poster, you will:
- Explain the source of the data.
- Build a simulation.
- Interpret that simulation to learn something about the position, velocity, or acceleration of the object.
- Think about the forces in play.
- Incorporate the forces into your simulation.
- Learn something about the forces in the situation.
- Think about the energy in the system and tell a story about the energy flow into/out-of the system.
What Data and Tools Are Available
In the following chapters will have the basics and links to data for various situations. You will need to choose one. Look through and choose one that your team finds interesting. One other spreadsheet tool that will probably be useful are Absolute References. If you are unfamiliar with this particular technique, please see Appendix W.
How the Project Will Be Graded
Below you see the rubric for this project. There is a total of 100 points.
| General Poster (10pts)
Criteria: The report is professional, AND well organized, AND uses correct spelling/grammar. |
Near Mastery
The poster easily meets all criteria. (10pts) |
Satisfactory
The poster meets two of the three criteria. (7points)
|
Needs Work
The poster easily meets one of the three criteria. (4 points)
|
|
| Background (10pts)
Criteria: The poster clearly indicates the context under which the data were collected AND which questions are being explored. |
Near Mastery
Students easily meet both criteria. (10pts) |
Satisfactory
The questions of interest are clear, but the explanation of the context could use more flushing out. (7pts) |
Needs Work
The questions need more flushing out and the context is barely explained (4pts) |
|
| Kinematic Calculation Result (10pts)
Criteria: Did you get it right? |
Near Mastery
You got it right. (10pts) |
Satisfactory
You didn’t get it right, but the TA can quickly find where you went wrong. (7pts) |
Needs Work
You did not get it right and your simulation looks mostly reasonable, but the TA cannot find your mistake. (5pts) |
|
| Kinematic Calculation Result Presentation, i.e. Graph(s) (10pts) Criteria: Did you create a graph(s) to help illustrate the solution? Are they clear (scaling/axes/labeling)? |
Near Mastery The quantity(ies) you graphed were useful in illustrating your point. The graph is clear (title, well labeled axes, scaled appropriately, etc.).(10pts) |
Satisfactory The quantity(ies) you graphed were useful in illustrating your point. The graph is mostly clear (title, well labeled axes, scaled appropriately, etc.), though there are aspects which could be clearer.(7pts) |
Needs Work You could have chosen better quantities for graphing OR there are significant issues with the clarity of the graph which hamper interpretation.(5pts) |
|
| Free-Body Diagram (10pts)
Criteria: All forces are present, correctly identified, and labeled. The forces are drawn in qualitatively correct directions. |
Near Mastery
All criteria are met. (10pts) |
Good
All forces are present, but one may be misidentified OR two are incorrectly labelled. (8pts) |
Satisfactory
All forces are present, but two are mislabeled OR three are mislabeled OR one force depicted which is not present. (5pts) |
Needs Work
At least more than one force depicted which is not present OR more than two misidentified. (2pts) |
| Force Result and Interpretation (20pts)
Criteria: Correctly solved for the relevant quantity and translated the result into an English sentence with an accurate generalization. |
Near Mastery
Correct quantity calculated correctly. The resulting interpretive sentences clearly describe the result. The generalization is accurate and complete. (20pts) |
Good
Correct quantity calculated correctly. The resulting interpretive sentences clearly describe the result. The generalization may not be complete. (17pts) |
Satisfactory
Correct quantity is correctly calculated. The explanation may not be completely clear and the generalization is limited. (12pts) |
Needs Work
The correct value is correctly calculated. (8pts) |
| Energy Calculation (15pts)
Criteria: The relevant types of energy are identified at each moment and calculated correctly. |
Near Mastery
The relevant types of energy for each moment are correctly identified and correctly calculated. (15pts) |
Good
All but one type of energy is correctly identified. All those that are correctly identified are calculated correctly. (12pts) |
Satisfactory
All but two types of energy are correctly identified OR all but one are correctly identified and all but one are calculated correctly. (10pts) |
Needs Work
Two energies misidentified and one miscalculated. (5pts) |
| Energy Story (15pts)
Criteria: Correct identification of where the energy goes. |
Near Mastery
Team accurately identifies how the energy transforms including how it enters/leaves the system. (15pts) |
Satisfactory
Team mostly identifies how the energy moves around. Some minor omissions. (12pts) |
Needs Work
Perfunctory overview of energy flow. (8pts) |
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