Rocket from the North Pole

Highlights of the activity

1. This kinesthetic activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students visualize “straight” lines on a rotating object.
2. Students work in pairs and attempt to draw straight lines on a rotating balloon.
3. The entire class wrap-up discussion includes students sharing their work, opening up the classroom for a conversation on trajectories of objects in a rotating reference frame.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Provides a simple introduction to trajectories as observed on Earth.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

rfnorthhand.pdf

rfnorthhand.tex