In this project, you and your partner will develop a two-three minute digital movie documenting "real physics" in the "real world".
- Your objective is to illustrate graphically the importance and application of physics in our daily lives.
- Your medium is a digital movie, a QuickTime movie, that you construct from stills, video, music and voice overlay.
- Your construction set will include scanners, video digitizer, audio digitizer, (Adobe Photoshop may be able to handle all of this) and iMovie2.
- Real data should be collected whenever possible, and included in graphical form as part of your project. Use of graphical analysis tools is encouraged (no, demanded). Use of Videopoint, HIPP Physics or LoggerPro for video analysis is strongly encouraged.
- The final product will be presented to the class at the end of the project. It will also be burned onto a master DVD, or onto videotapes by subject matter.
- In addition to your digital movie, you will need to submit hard copy of data with your procedures and analysis. Other submissions include a concept outline and the storyboard for your movie. Evidence (bibliography) of research to support your project must be submitted.
The emphasis of this project is "real world" physics. The specific subject may be large or small, but should be analyzed and explained thoroughly. The project needs to communicate the science behind the activity clearly and coherently, with style and wit.
Some possible topics:
- A ride at Great America or the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- An apparatus at the playground
- A pipe organ
- An accelerating automobile, motorcycle, bicycle
- A bungee jump re-creation
- Trebuchet
- A sporting event
Due Dates:
- Choosing of partners: By spring vacation
- Selection of topics: By April 18
- First deadline (concept outline): By May 15
- Second deadline (storyboard): By May 29
- Final presentations of the digital movies: June 9 - 13
This project was devised for an AP Physics course to fill the time following the AP Physics Test in May. Some items have been updated since this was originally published, and many adaptations could be made to meet with the equipment at an individual school. Substitute "Biology", "Chemistry" or "Earth Science" and make appropriate changes in the possible topics to produce similar projects in those areas.