Clicker questions for discussion in CIRTL

1. Using images2. Conceptual examples based on student

difficulties3. Surveys

4. Reasoning behind the answer is what we’re looking for

Group 1

What is a common or unifying theme in this set of questions? (You may list more than one but I have just one in mind)

3

You look to the eastern horizon as the Moon is rising and discover that it is in the new moon phase. Later that same day when the moon is setting, which of the moon phases shown below would the Moon have looked like?

Center for Astronomy Education, Ed Prather

4

The pie graph shows the energy of the Skater, where could she be on the track?

Consider…1. Mechanics2. Depth3. Goals

A

B

CD

EPE

KE

Kathy Perkins, CU Boulder

5Bill Gerace, UMass Amherst

The diagrams below show two uniformly charged spheres. The charge on the right sphere is 3 times as large as the charge on the left sphere. Which force diagram best represents the magnitudes and directions of the electric forces on the two spheres?

A.D.

B.E.

C.

Group 2

What is a common or unifying theme in this set of questions? (You may list more than one but I have just one in mind)

Show students a demonstration that a lightbulb will light when a current is run through a weak acid solution. If the acid solution is increased to 100% strength, what will happen to the brightness of the lightbulb?

A. BrighterB. DimmerC. Completely darkD. Don’t know

Origin unknown 7

8

A small acorn over time can grow into a huge oak tree. The tree can weigh many tons. Where does most of the mass come from as the tree grows?

A)Minerals in the soilB)Organic matter in the soilC)Gases in the airD)Sunlight

A Private Universe; Annenberg Media

9

You’re on a cart, initially at rest, throwing balls at a partition that is rigidly mounted on the front of the cart. If the balls bounce straight back, as in the figure, then is the cart put in motion?

A. Yes, leftB. Yes, rightC. NoD. Don’t know

Eric Mazur, “Peer Instruction”

Group 3

What is a common or unifying theme in this set of questions? (You may list more than one but I have just one in mind)

11

If you were walking down a road and passed a piece of trash, would you pick it up?

A. YesB. NoC. It depends

vaguely recollected from a question described by Kate Dollard, Northampton HS

Which of the following are you least comfortable using to solve problems?

A. KinematicsB. Newton’s LawsC. Work-Energy TheoremD. Momentum-Impulse TheoremE. Angular Momentum-Angular Impulse Theorem

12Ian Beatty, UMass Amherst

One of you will be randomly selected to be a winner! Pick one:

A. You can receive $1.00 (cash) right nowB. You can receive $1.05 (cash) during the next

meeting of this class

13From DrJamesIII at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnnP0uCqD4k

Results: 66% of class took $1 now (but 33% if $1 on next to last day of class

instead of last day of class)

Group 4

What is a common or unifying theme in this set of questions? (You may list more than one but I have just one in mind)

This one is a bit trickier. Hint: What do the answer choices have in common? What do they require students to do?

15Kate Dollard, Northampton HS (based on a question by Chevy Seney of Frontier Regional School)

If you could have only one system left, which would it be?1. Circulatory2. Nervous3. Endocrine4. Immune5. Digestive6. Respiratory7. Excretory8. Muscle/Skeletal

16Cathy Wanat, Northampton High School

Pick the two groups that would have the biggest effect on water quality in a watershed.

Cathy Wanat, Northampton High School

In this food chain, would you expect to have more owls or more frogs and why?