Last night’s homework involved the challenge to solve a set of constant acceleration word problems without using the kinematics equations. Instead, the instructions were to sketch a velocity vs. time graph for each problem and then use that velocity vs. time graph to solve the word problem. I first hear this idea from Anne Goshorn, who uses this as the main method for students to solve kinematics problems in her 1st year physics classes. My goal is to broaden each student’s skill set so that they have multiple tools that they can use to attack a new problem.
Since the majority of my students are taking Calculus concurrently with AP Physics C, I try to make sure that I wait to have students use differential and integral calculus until they have learned it in their calculus class. However, slope (rate of change) and area under the curve (accumulation of change) can be understood and applied graphically, without needing to know the rules for differentiating and integrating polynomials and other functions.
Randall Physics 