Turntable Hockey

Highlights of the activity

1. This computer visualization activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students visualize straight lines in a rotating frame.
2. Students use Maple to model straight lines in a rotating frame.
3. The entire class wrap-up discussion includes student testimony of their experience of playing catch on a rotating surface, buttressing the students' understanding of rotational acceleration.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

1. Properties of trajectories in rotating reference frames are counterintuitive.
2. Sets the stage for studying motion on the Earth's surface.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

rfthockeyhand.pdf

rfthockeyhand.tex

Maple Worksheet

rfthockey.mws (Maple 11 Classic)

Mathematica Notebook

rfthockey.nb