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The virtual solar system project: Student modeling of the solar system
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INTRODUCTION Over the past decade there has been a proliferation of studies (116 studies since 1988 according to the Pfundt and Duit (1998) bibliography) reporting students' difficulties in understanding basic astronomical phenomena. For example, in the notable film A Private Universe (Pyramid Film &Video, 1988), Harvard students, faculty, and alumni were found to hold incorrect conceptions concerning the causes of the Earth's seasons, and other astronomical phenomena.
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This article describes use of Mathcad mathematical package to solve problem of the motion of two, three and four material points under the influence of gravitational forces on the planar motion and in three-dimensional space. The limits of accuracy of numerical methods for solving ordinary differential equations are discussed. Usual concept of Kepler hours with uneven movement arrows illustrates Kepler's second law. Mathcad animation tools are used to illustrate solutions and links with animations are provided.
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Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) is the force produced by the impact of sunlight photons on the surface of the spacecraft. This extra force, despite being small, plays an important role on trajectory design and orbit determination. In this paper we present an open-source tool that enables the user to compute high-fidelity approximations of SRP accelerations for a given spacecraft using ray-tracing techniques. The tool also allows the user to compare between different fidelity levels and different models like the N-plate or the cannonball finding a trade-off on the SRP accuracy between computation time and accuracy.
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This paper is on customization of computer models using the Easy Java Simulation authoring toolkit for the Singapore syllabus, based on real astronomical data, supported with literature reviewed researched pedagogical features. These 4 new computer models serves to support the enactment of scientific work that are inquiry centric and evidence based that are more likely to promote enjoyment and inspire imagination having experienced gravity-physics than traditional pen and paper problem solving. Pilot research suggests students enactment of investigative learning like scientist is now possible, where gravity-physics comes alive. Download simulations https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44365627/lookangEJSworkspace/export/ejs\_model\_GField\_and\_Potential\_1D\_v8wee.jar https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44365627/lookangEJSworkspace/export/ejs\_model\_GFieldandPotential1Dv7EarthMoon.jar https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44365627/lookangEJSworkspace/export/ejs\_model\_KeplerSystem3rdLaw09.jar...
International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE)
The main role of this article is to create a mathematical model using virtual laboratories for primary, secondary and high schools, and universities. The aim of the article is such a mathematical model to be applicable at all levels of education, with a substantial idea to teach students to think more scientifically. Analysis showed us two possible methods of creating a given model. Possible implementation is with differential equations or vector functions. After a thorough consideration and analysis of the subject we chose a vector function that interfere with a larger spectrum of students compared to differential equations. The main contribution of the work is already mentioned and that is a virtual laboratory, which in our case describes the Solar system and its movement using vector functions. This laboratory is useful, from a primary school, where students are getting to know the Solar system to secondary and high schools, and colleges, where educators can use this model on phy...