Inquiry Based Methods for

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Inquiry Based Methods for Combinations of
Capacitors Douglas Young Mercer University
Physics Department AAPT-SAC Meeting March 6, 2004
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Review Lightbulbs Batteries Exercises

• Long and venerable history
• Teaching electricity with batteries and bulbs,
  James Evans, TPT 16 p. 15-22 (Jan 1978)
• Research as a guide for curriculum development
  An example from introductory electricity. Part
  I Investigation of student understanding,
  Peter Shaffer and Lillian McDermott AJP 60 (11)
  p. 994-1003 (November 1992)
• Research as a guide for curriculum development
  An example from introductory electricity. Part
  II Design of instructional strategies, Peter
  Shaffer and Lillian McDermott AJP 60 (11) p.
  1003-1013 (November 1992)

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Archetype Inquiry-based batteries/bulbs problem
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Treatment of Combinations of Capacitors in
Inquiry-Based Literature PEG Tutorials
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My idea

• Use RC circuit to teach capacitance
• ?RC for RC circuit, using C1 F capacitors and
  lightbulb for R
• Demo

• Use RC circuit to teach capactitance
• ?RC for RC circuit
• Demo

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Problem

• Higher initial voltage causes discharge to take
  about the same amount of time gt Ruins
  capacitance measurements
• Charge to same voltage Charge as a unit
• Demo

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Capacitors in Parallel
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Ultimate Objective