Computer Intensive Physics Robert G. Fuller

Portugal Conference

March 6, 19989 University of Nebraska - Lincoln

"Outside-of-Class Physics Problem". I gave the students a problem to do. The students figure out how they solve this problem. What physics did they use?

What physics concept must they use to solve this problem? Then they go to the "Physics InfoMall" and they find another problem [there are thousands well 19 books, study guides, thousands of problems on the "InfoMall"]that uses this same concept for its solution (See Figure 16). They have to identify whatever the concept is and find another problem somewhere in the "InfoMall" that needs that same physics concept for its solution. They work out the solution to that problem.

What other ways can a large electronic database be used in ways not permitted by a textbook?

You can actually study sociology, the sociology of physics (see Figure 17), using this large database. You can do both standard sociology and creative sociology. Let me give you an example of each kind.

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