PP+ Force Vector Addition vs Xplore Hiroshima

The Addition of Force Vectors lab uses a force table to investigate the vector addition of forces. It is part of Polyhedron Physics Plus, a set of 24 iPad apps for use in the classroom. To see how they work, try the FREE PP+ Newton’s 2nd Law lab. For those who’d prefer to develop their own experiments, the PP Force Table app features a similar apparatus without lab procedures and other supporting materials. In addition to a 3D simulation that produces realistic data, each lab includes introductory videos, background theory, experimental procedure, analysis and reporting tools, pre-lab quiz, post-lab questions, and teacher support materials. The experimental data produced by the simulations are realistic, including random and systematic errors. These features allow students to use standard data analysis and error analysis techniques to report on their own unique data, just as if the experiment had been performed using hands-on equipment. These labs can serve as replacements for hands-on labs, especially when equipment is not available, or as supplements to hands-on labs. They are also a suitable option for students in distance learning and home school situations. Formative and summative evaluations showed no significant difference in learning between students using the virtual labs and those using hands-on labs. Preliminary results suggest increased learning by students using the virtual labs as supplements to hands-on. Polyhedron Physics was developed by Polyhedron Learning Media, Inc. with partial funding provided under contract numbers ED-07-CO-0040 and ED-IES-11-C-0029 from the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb ever used in war was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, ushering in the nuclear age. Within 10 seconds, blistering heat, blast winds, and deadly radiation reduced a once vibrant and bustling city to rubble and ash. Hiroshima's atomic bomb survivors, or in Japanese, hibakusha, have been working tirelessly for 75 years to ensure that what happened to them will never happen again, anywhere on Earth. What did the people living in Hiroshima experience? How is Hiroshima's past and present relevant to our own lives? And how can the stories of hibakusha inspire us to create a more sustainable and peaceful future? During this tour, local guides Mary (American), and Haruki (Japanese) will introduce Hiroshima Peace Park, formerly Nakajima District, one of Hiroshima's busiest downtown centers and the target of the atomic bombing. You will see video footage from the day, toggle between maps of past and present Hiroshima, interact with 3D models of Little Boy, the A-bomb fireball, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, and hear the testimonies of hibakusha accompanied by art they created to convey their experiences. Stops include the Atomic Bomb Dome and Rest House, two A-bombed buildings that remain in the Peace Park even today, the hypocenter of the atomic bombing, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and the Sadako Sasaki inspired Children's Peace Monument.