Teaching Core Concepts in Thermal and Fluid Sciences Using Devices Familiar to the Student

Students often struggle with core concepts in thermal and fluid sciences courses. Through a National Science Foundation funded project we are developing a suite of experiments designed to expose student misperceptions about core concepts, and to hopefully improve the students’ understanding of the basic principles. The experiments use common devices that the students are familiar with. By using such devices the students can concentrate on learning the underlying principles rather than getting lost in understanding how the device works. There are seven experiments currently being developed using a hair dryer, a blender, a toaster, a bicycle pump, a computer power supply, a pipe with a sudden expansion, and a water container with a hole in it. These will be implemented over the next two years at the authors ’ campuses to determine the effectiveness of each. These experiments are used as part of a three step approach to teaching the core principles. First, before the relevant lecture on the material, the students are exposed to a demonstration of one of the device. This is done to expose misconceptions they may have, and to try to increase their interest in the material. A traditional lecture is then presented on the material. The students should be more prepared for the lecture, and may have questions they may not otherwise have. Finally, the students go into the lab and run a more extensive test using the same equipment. This paper presents a pedagogical framework for these types of exercises and an overview of the seven experiments that are under development