How can we incorporate numerical modelling in high-school math and physics teaching?


  Boaz Katz  
Weizmann Institute of Science
Schwartz/Reisman Science Education Center, Rehovot

Numerical calculations are powerfull tools that allow physical laws to be applied to common complicated situations in nature allowing direct comparison with measurements. Several projects that were done in class in tenth and eleventh grade by students will be presented. Beyond the usefulness of being powerfull tools, numerical integration provides direct understanding of the infinitesimal concepts involved in many physical and mathematical ideas such as instantaneous velocity and acceleration. I believe that some practical numerical integration should be incorporated into the syllabus of high-school math and physics classes. This is very challenging. Do you have any ideas on how to achieve this?