Speaker
Description
Circularity is a measure of roundness of a plane shape. Circularity is a 2D measure. It has a 3D counterpart, sphericity. I will be sharing how I use the concept of circularity to engage students learning science. Students start by recording their predictions about the circularity of a list plane shapes. Students predict the ranking of the circularity of the shapes. They also make quantitative predictions, answering questions like “How much more circular is one shape in comparison to another?”. Reasons for the qualitative and quantitative predictions are opined.
Next, they collect and analyze data from shapes they folded. There are a number of ways to compute the circularity of a plane shape in the literature. A few methods for computing circularity will be discussed. I will share reasons for the definition ($ 4\pi \frac{Area}{Perimeter^2}$) I use in class. The shapes students fold includes heptagons, hexagons, pentagons, rectangles, squares (no folds), and various triangles.
In conclusion students reflect on the results of their experimentation. They compare measured and analyzed data with prior predictions. This activity can be adapted to a laboratory experience focused on measurement and error propagation.
