ERIC Number: EJ984097
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Oct
Pages: 2
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
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Available Date: N/A
Units, Jargon, "g"-Forces, and Squirting Blood
Milanick, Mark
Physics Teacher, v50 n7 p410-411 Oct 2012
Two of the most frustrating things for me as a teacher are the way units and jargon can get in the way of understanding concepts. When I teach pre-nursing and medical students about blood pressure, they end up memorizing a lot of information that would be obvious if they had remembered some of their basic physics--particularly the ability to change units. Of course, the other solution would be to use units that make sense to the students. Some non-majors taking physics classes are thinking about careers in the medical field, but often don't see the connection between physics and their interest in medicine. However, there are a number of ways instructors can build on students' interests to help them explore real-world applications of physics "and" medicine. This laboratory exercise provides an example of one such connection, by engaging students in considering why large "g"-forces may cause individuals to "black out." We have used this activity with success in a pre-nursing physiology class and believe it could be easily adapted for teachers of high school physics.
Descriptors: Physics, Medicine, Science Instruction, Jargon, Units of Study, Relevance (Education), Laboratory Experiments, Science Activities, Medical Education, Nursing Education, Medical Students, Nursing Students, Physiology, College Science, Secondary School Science
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
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