Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Three Levels of Introductory Physics
Physics for Physicists - Two semesters, calculus based, rigorous problem solving
Physics for the Life Sciences - Two semesters, algebra based, problem solving, conceptual understanding with biological focus
Physics for BA Students (“Physics for Poets”) - One semester, algebra based, conceptual understanding with humanistic focus
Motion Discussion in the Three Levels
Physics for Physicists
Physics for the Life Sciences
Physics for Poets
“A 2kg box slides down a 30 degree hill with a friction coefficient of 0.4 . Starting with Newton’s Second Law of Motion derive an equation that relates the velocity of the box as a function of its displacement down the hill. Use that equation to find the velocity of the box after it has gone 2 m down the hill.”
“A 2kg box slides down a 30 degree frictionless hill. Using the Kinematic Equations of Motion, find out how fast the box is moving when it has gone down the hill 2m.”
“A box slides down a frictionless hill. If the velocity of the box can be written as 𝑣 = ξ2 𝑎 ∆𝑥 where 𝑎 is the acceleration of the box and ∆𝑥 is how far the box has moved. Then find the velocity of the box if the acceleration is 4.9𝑚/𝑠2 and it has traveled down the hill 2m.”
Potential Art-Physics Interrelationships
• Physicality in the creation and implementation of art -- “the engineering of art”
• Modes of Thinking that are shared between the two disciplines – “synergistic problem solving”
• Historical Parallels paradigm shifts in both disciplines that occur at similar times – “Zeitgeists”
• Artistic Manifestos that are partially driven by technological advances or scientific discoveries
• Metaphorical Extension of physical concepts
Motional Metaphors
Position Acceleration
Walkers by the Seaby Milton
Nighthawksby Hopper
The Velocity Metaphor
Unique Forms of Continuity in Space
by Boccioni
Simulating Motion in Static Images - Use of diagonals and cropping in impressionistic paintings - Comic book effects in the work of Lichtenstein - The Futurism movement
Work of Muybridge and Eakins
The Koyaanisqatsi Film
Greek Thoughts on Motion - Aristotle’s Four Element Theory - Zeno’s Paradox
The American Dream and Upward Mobility
Art Essay Assignments: Motion Pick an artwork, from The Art Book, which exemplifies a mechanical
metaphor (i.e. position, velocity, acceleration, etc.). Create a 500 – 1000 word essay discussing how the artist uses this metaphor. If you like, you may compare and contrast how a metaphor is used in two separate artworks.
One student selected to write about the velocity metaphor in
Coming from the Mill by L. S. Lowry
Integrated Exam Questions: Modern Physics
"Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase (No.2) sparked a storm of controversy at the International Exhibition of Modern Art held at in New York in 1913.
… The painting reduces the descending nude to a series of some twenty different static positions whose fractured volumes
and linear panels fill almost the entire canvas.” (Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture in the Philadelphia
Museum of Art (2000), pg. 27)
Explain how this painting demonstrates one of the following metaphors: Relativistic Space-Time, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle or the Particle/Wave duality of matter.
New Course Implementations for Spring 2014
Addition of an Art History text
Addition of a desk sculpture lab
Addition of a class visit to the Mint Museum of
Contemporary Art
The Future of Physical Aesthetics
• Add physicality to the class by collaborating with the Studio Art program. Perhaps labs on perspective, color mixing and kinetic sculpture could be developed.
• Develop proper assessment strategies to gauge “value added” aspects of the course.
• Find additional course materials and collaborators by searching educational databases for other art-physics initiatives.
• Work with granting agencies to support opportunities for community engagement.
