Course Profile

TRENT CONTENTS  Course Profile Association President's Message Making Waves: John Jennings and the Canadian Canoe Museum Physics 100: Swinging from the rafters Nancy Sherouse Tribute Reunion Weekend Accommodation Directory Wilson's Wit and Wisdom: Alumni Coaches The Formal and Informal Classroom or, What Really Happens at Trent Unique Contribution to Archaeology Earns Spirit of Trent Award Campus Alumni Profile - Deborah Berrill Beyond Our Walls Report In Memoriam Sunshine Sketches

Physics 100: Swinging from the rafters by Lisa McEntee '95 The physics department at Trent is in a period of expansion. Not only have they created a new building, but the way which the first year Physics course, PY100, has been altered has made it very popular choice among students. Physics 100 is an introductory course into a very diverse discipline, covering elementary topics such as: particle dynamics, motion, electricity and magnetism, optics and special relativity. The beauty of this course is that it complements so many other disciplines, not only in the sciences but in the arts as well. The physical world is in the midst of an exciting period and it is important for everyone, not just physicists to have a basic understanding of its importance. Professor Alan Slavin, the course instructor, teaches in a rather unconventional manner, using experiments in weekly laboratory sessions to elaborate on topics discussed in the course. The fortnightly tutorial is used to focus on difficulties that students are having with species in a smaller personal setting, but Prof. Slavin now sets up the three weekly lecture hours as a Peer Instruction time. This promotes a higher level of understanding for all students involved and gives them a greater opportunity for interaction. Prof. Slavin's philosophy includes giving students photocopied lecture notes in advance while assigning readings for the following lecture period. At the beginning of the class, Prof. Slavin reviews the major concepts from the assigned readings and the remainder of the class time is used for demonstrations that link the class concepts to the notes or small group discussions on qualitative or analytical problems that requires further understanding. Prof. Slavin has been known to use energetic demonstrations to enhance his students' understanding and has even gone as far as to "swing" from the rafters of the Science Complex Lecture Hall to demonstrate the physics of a pendulum. This method results in students having a full set of clear, error-free lecture notes and a better grasp on the concepts of the course. Slavin has noticed that this year students prefer the new method to conventional lectures and is hoping that it will encourage more students to continue in the discipline. Students taking PY100 can end up in professions ranging from medical physicists, educators, doctors to physiotherapists and physical chemists. For more information on Physics 100 or the Trent Physics department, visit the web site www.trentu.ca/academic/physics.

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