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Third Formers Hold “Physics Fights” with Cambodian Students
Woodberry Forest School’s third-form Honors Physics I class debated physics principles via Skype with students from the Jay Pritzker Academy (JPA) in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, on May 16, 2016. Four friendly “physics fights” took place in the classroom of Woodberry physics teacher Greg Jacobs.
For two of the fights, a Woodberry student presented a three-minute solution to a physics problem; then a JPA student served as the "examiner," whose job is to engage the presenter in conversation for five minutes. In the other two fights, students from JPA presented, and Woodberry students served as examiners. Troy Shapiro, a graduate of the Collegiate School in Richmond, was the leader of the JPA team.
Mr. Jacobs says physics fights are designed to be a discussion of results. “Usually,” he explained, “this is an advanced methodology saved for the best physics students in a school. However, we wanted to bring it to a lower honors physics class and to conceptual classes for the learning experience.”
In advance of the fights, the teams had a few weeks to prepare responses to three intricate physics questions. Examiners then questioned the presenters not only on how they had arrived at their solutions, but also how they would respond to conjectural hypotheticals. For instance, a JPA team member asked a Woodberry student how mechanical energy would be conserved if the axis of rotation presented in one of the problems the teams explored was adjusted.
Mr. Jacobs says, “The whole point of the physics fights was for both schools to show each other – and themselves – just how much they’ve accomplished this year. I could not be more impressed with both classes.” Mr. Jacobs plans to hold another physics fight for its conceptual physics students this year and to continue the collaboration in the future.
By Caleb Rogers ’16
Caleb Rogers is working with Woodberry's communications office as part of his Senior Distinction project.
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Mr. Jacobs says physics fights are designed to be a discussion of results. “Usually,” he explained, “this is an advanced methodology saved for the best physics students in a school. However, we wanted to bring it to a lower honors physics class and to conceptual classes for the learning experience.”
In advance of the fights, the teams had a few weeks to prepare responses to three intricate physics questions. Examiners then questioned the presenters not only on how they had arrived at their solutions, but also how they would respond to conjectural hypotheticals. For instance, a JPA team member asked a Woodberry student how mechanical energy would be conserved if the axis of rotation presented in one of the problems the teams explored was adjusted.
Mr. Jacobs says, “The whole point of the physics fights was for both schools to show each other – and themselves – just how much they’ve accomplished this year. I could not be more impressed with both classes.” Mr. Jacobs plans to hold another physics fight for its conceptual physics students this year and to continue the collaboration in the future.
By Caleb Rogers ’16
Caleb Rogers is working with Woodberry's communications office as part of his Senior Distinction project.
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