Classical Mechanics
Electricity & Magnetism
Fluid Mechanics
Optics
Oscillations & Waves
Thermo & Stat Mech
Highlights:
A few fundamental equations can help organize large blocks of conceptual knowledge and serve as starting points for problem solving
Abstract:
An important step in learning to use math in science is learning to blend conceptual physics knowledge with mathematical symbols. Students need to learn to see physics equations not just as calculational tools, but as ways of expressing fundamental relationships among physical quantities, coding conceptual information, and organizing physics knowledge structures. This unit provides tools to help organize a course around a few basic "anchor equations" and offers problems throughout the curriculum best solved by building from those basic equations. Problems available in autograded commercial environment, Expert TA.
Resource Types:
Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Student reading, Homework, In-class activity
Commercially available in:
ExpertTA
ExpertTA
Authors:
TOPICS
Physics Topics:
Life Sciences Topics:
Biomechanics
Human and Animal Physiology
Medical Applications
FILES
Using math in physics - Anchor equations
Using math in physics - Anchor equations
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
IMPLEMENTATION
Equipment required: Computers / software
Specific equipment needed: Web access is needed for the homework problems for students.
Basic implementation tips & tricks: A lot of the reasoning we demonstrate in class can hide complex thought processes that we as experts do automatically without thinking. Tying all derivations and explanations to fundamental equations and principles can help students learn to see the power of being able to develop chains of reasoning rather than simply trying to memorize lots of specific results.
How does this resource fit into the flow of your course? I try to use a focus on fundamental principle and reasoning from basic (anchor) equations throughout the class. Quiz and exam questions are designed to be most easily done when started from basic principles. Quiz and exam questions are variations from what students have already seen, so if they use principle-based reasoning, the questions are easy; if they try to just remember the answers, they are not successful.
PEDAGOGY
Pedagogical approach: Conceptually-oriented activities; Mathematically-focused activities
Skills / Competencies: Multiple representations; Intuition building; Applying physical principles
What insights or realizations do you hope students gain from this resource?
1. Equations in physics blend conceptual knowledge with mathematics.
2. Physics is a "principle-based" discipline; a few powerful fundamental principles are powerful tools for solving lots of problems.
3. A core ("anchor") equation can serve as a way of organizing large blocks of physics knowledge.
Why is this resource useful to life sciences students? A lot of phenomena in both biology and chemistry are controlled by basic laws of physics. Understanding this can help students build a sense of mechanism - how things work and why, and get beyond simply memorizing what appear on the surface to be confusing or even contradictory results.
DISCUSSION
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SUBMISSION DETAILS
Copyright: 2025 Edward Redish
CC BY-NC-SA - Attribution, No Commercial uses and Share Alike. Derivative works must have the same license.Last Edit Date: January 21, 2025
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