The Wire

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to provide practice computing line integrals in polar coordinates, and to set the stage for Stokes' Theorem.
2. Students work in small groups to evaluate a particular line integral along different paths.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion reinforces the “Use what you know!” strategy, and emphasizes the (mostly!) path-independent nature of these particular integrals, which correspond to Ampère's Law.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Capstone activity for line integrals, combining computation, use of polar coordinates, and path independence, while also setting the stage for Green's/Stokes' Theorem.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

vcwireguide.pdf

Student Handouts

vcwirehand.pdf