ActivPhysics is the first application that we have found
exciting. This is the first application we have seen that we
believe will significantly improve the process of learning
introductory physics. Why is ActivPhysics important? Why does we
believe it will help? Students learn introductory physics in
many different ways. Some learn from the textbook alone; some
learn more from lectures and demos; some gain their keenest
insight from laboratory. This year, an additional learning tool,
the software package ActivPhysics (Addison-Wesley Interactive)
is being used in G. Holzwarth's section of Physics 113. Each
student purchased a copy of the software and a workbook to go
with it. Provision was made to have the software available in
all University computer labs for those students who lack
ThinkPads. The key advantage of computer-based physics
instruction like ActivPhysics is that the student can directly
experience the time-dependence of objects in response to various
forces. Thus students can observe projectile m