Talks

All materials Copyright ©1990- by A. John Mallinckrodt.
Permission is granted for nonprofit use with attribution.

Making Use of Rarely Given Wrong Answers on the FCI

An informally tested method for motivating students to take the FCI in good faith. Presented at the Summer 2005 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Salt Lake City, Utah

Uniform (Vertical?) Circular Motion

How to swing an object in a vertical circle at constant speed: A theoretical analaysis! Poster session presented at the Summer 2005 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Salt Lake City, Utah

Simple, Interesting, and Unappreciated Facts about Relativistic Acceleration

On the remarkable effectiveness of relativistic space travel at a constant and comfortable 9.8 m/s/s. Presented at the Winter 2003 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Austin, Texas

What happens when a*t > c?

On the remarkable effectiveness of relativistic space travel at a constant and comfortable 9.8 m/s/s. Presented at the Summer 1999 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, San Antonio, Texas

Scales of the Universe

and

Scales of the Solar System

Illustrations showing the almost unimagineable range of length scales in the physical universe. Presented at the Spring 1999 CEEMaST conference for K-12 math and science teachers, Cal Poly Pomona

Force First

An outline of an approach to introductory calculus-based mechanics that my book (eventually!!) will adopt. Presented at the Winter 1997 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Phoenix, Arizona

Light Thoughts on Gravity

A cartoon tour of the history of ideas on the nature of gravity. Presented to the Cal Poly Pomona Physics Department at a March 1996 seminar

Increasing Intuition for Inertia and Interactions with Interactive Physics

A report on an educational research project involving the use of modules written with Interactive Physics and pre and post assessments of both the test and control groups using the Force Concept Inventory. Presented at the Winter 1996 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Reno, Nevada

Inputs and Outputs in Geometrical Optics: What's the Object?

A pedagogical approach to geometrical optics emphasizing the physical vergence properties of rays over artifical rules based on algebraic signs. Presented at the Winter 1995 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Orlando, Florida

Addressing Conceptual Difficulties in Electrical Circuits

A review of conceptual difficulties with and pedagogically effective approaches to instruction in electrical circuits. An invited talk presented at the Winter 1994 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, San Diego, California

Diving in Artificial Gravity: A Memorable Lesson on Fictitious Forces

A close look at the peculiarities of motion under the influence of the Coriolis and centrifugal forces as experienced by a diver in a rotating space station. Presented at the Summer 1993 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Boise, Idaho

Conceptual Kinematics: A Meaningful and Memorable Approach to Constant Acceleration Motion

A pedagogical approach to constant acceleration kinematics that can eliminate dependence upon the usual redundant, lengthy, and intimidating array of mathematical relationships. Presented at the Summer 1992 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Orono, Maine

The Pole and the Barn: A Worksheet on the Consistency of Special Relativity

An interactive worksheet that allows students to look in detail at the classic "pole and barn paradox" of special relativity and to understand the roles of length contraction, time dilation, and the relativity of simultaneity in making sense of the results. Presented at the Summer 1991 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, Vancouver, British Columbia

All About Work

With Harvey Leff. An exhaustive analysis of seven different and useful "work/energy" theorems. Presented at the Winter 1991 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, San Antonio, Texas

Head-On Collision II: Yin Yang Soup

With Harvey Leff. A closer look at energy transformations in head on collisions. Presented at the Fall 1990 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers Southern California Section, Cal State Dominguez Hills