In Chatham University's Physics Laboratory I students are using the HP Tablets received through the grant with the RealTime Physics Active Learning Laboratories, Module I Mechanics text by D.R. Sokoloff, R.K. Thornton and P. W. Laws.  The instructor attended the Activity Based Physics Faculty Institute this past summer with the authors of this text.

Students used the HP Tablets and various sensors from PASCO to analyze motion through different laboratory activities that focus on mechanics.  Motion Sensors were used the first few weeks to analyze motion of the students walking.  It is difficult to grasp motion graphs until you are able to view in real time a graph of the motion of your body while walking.  Next, students monitored motion of a cart on a track (as shown in the photos below) since a cart's motion is steadier and easier to analyze than a person walking.  Students used PASCO's DataStudio software to analyze position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and acceleration-time graphs.

Using the HP tablets allowed easy use of the Datastudio software with probes.  Students got practice analyzing real-time motion-time graphs.  Mechanics is a difficult topic to study that is greatly enhanced by the ability to work in small groups to analyze real-time motion of their body or other objects.  Due to the portability of the tablets, students could easily move to various areas of the room to take their data since some areas got crowded when all groups tried to work at their assigned bench. 

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