dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaTwo-Particle Models, Diagrams and Graphs as Aids to Understanding Internal Energy
| Authors | Matthew L. Greenwolfe |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0702153 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0702153 |
Abstract
Single particle models are sufficient for many topics in introductory physics courses, but become misleading when applied to situations involving changes in internal energy. This paper merges two parallel attempts to reform the teaching of energy in the introductory physics curriculum, resulting in an approach to internal energy that is conceptually correct, mathematically rigorous, and yet simple enough for the introductory student to understand. It uses diagrams and graphs to provide concrete and visual means to track energy storage and transfer, and takes the smallest possible step in mathematical complexity - from one-particle to two-particle models - necessary to achieve consistency with a sound conceptual approach. The mathematical development is guided by the idea that the term "work" should receive a clear conceptual definition as energy that is transferred through the boundary of a system; mathematical expressions are identified as work - of any sort - only when they correspond to this definition.
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"abstract": "Single particle models are sufficient for many topics in introductory physics\ncourses, but become misleading when applied to situations involving changes in\ninternal energy. This paper merges two parallel attempts to reform the teaching\nof energy in the introductory physics curriculum, resulting in an approach to\ninternal energy that is conceptually correct, mathematically rigorous, and yet\nsimple enough for the introductory student to understand. It uses diagrams and\ngraphs to provide concrete and visual means to track energy storage and\ntransfer, and takes the smallest possible step in mathematical complexity -\nfrom one-particle to two-particle models - necessary to achieve consistency\nwith a sound conceptual approach. The mathematical development is guided by the\nidea that the term \"work\" should receive a clear conceptual definition as\nenergy that is transferred through the boundary of a system; mathematical\nexpressions are identified as work - of any sort - only when they correspond to\nthis definition.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0702153",
"authors": [
"Matthew L. Greenwolfe"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ed-ph"
],
"title": "Two-Particle Models, Diagrams and Graphs as Aids to Understanding Internal Energy",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0702153"
},
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