Speaker
Mark Huntress
(Patrick & Henry Community College)
Description
A seemingly simple either/or question about which shape Optimus Prime should transform into becomes, when guided by the instructor, a four-part, back and forth, edge-of-your-seat drama with a nailbiter conclusion. Topics covered include angular acceleration and momentum, moment of inertia, alternative axes of rotation, function optimization, and the semantics of “disk” vs. “cylinder.” Different approaches for algebra-based and calculus-based courses are discussed, as well as student feedback from the first semester that the assignment/activity was implemented.
Primary author
Mark Huntress
(Patrick & Henry Community College)
