The Activity Based Physics High School CD contains electronic files that include portions of published curricular materials adapted for high school use. These Activity Based Physics materials which were developed between 1986 and the present share a common theme. Their development has been based on the outcomes of physics education research and they use computer technology to enhance student observation and analysis of real phenomena. These materials have been drawn from:
1. Tools for Scientific Thinking Laboratories (TST) developed by Ronald Thornton & David Sokoloff: This includes two labs on Kinematics (TST Mechanics Labs 1 &2); an Investigation on Simple Harmonic Motion (TST Mechanics Lab 5 Investigation 2); and four labs on Sound (TST Sound Labs 1-4).
2. RealTime Physics Laboratory Modules (RTP) developed by David Sokoloff, Ronald Thornton & Priscilla Laws: This includes RTP Module One (Mechanics) Labs 3-9 covering Newton’s Three Laws in One Dimension; RTP Module Two (Heat & Thermodynamics) Labs 1-6 covering heat energy transfer processes, the 1st Law of Thermodynamics, the ideal gas law and heat engines; RTP Module Three (Electric Circuits) Labs 1-5 covering DC circuit behavior with batteries, bulbs, resistors, and capacitors.
3. Workshop Physics Activity Guide (WPAG) developed by Priscilla Laws with contributing authors. This includes a selection of units adapted from all four modules of the college edition dealing with Newtonian Mechanics (Units 1-2,4-7); work, energy and rotational motion (Units 10-12); radioactivity (Unit 28); and basic electrostatics (Unit 19), DC circuits (Units 22-24) and basic magnetism (Unit 27).
4. Interactive Lecture Demonstration Series (ILDs) being developed by David Sokoloff & Ronald Thornton. This selection includes student prediction and results sheets for topics in kinematics, Newtonian mechanics, mechanical energy, heat and thermodynamics, DC circuits, and preliminary materials on optics. Teacher Guides are available for the Mechanics ILDs but are not yet ready for other topics.