Connecting Experimental Uncertainty to Calculus and to Engineering Design

Authors

  • Gregory Hill University of Portland
  • Tamar More University of Portland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i5.4281

Keywords:

higher education, interdiciplinary curriculum, experimental uncertainty, engineering design, physics, calculus

Abstract

Experimental uncertainty and the epsilon-delta proof provide a rich example of a thread that weaves together topics in introductory physics, calculus, and engineering design. This thread presents an opportunity for deepening the connection between calculus and physics, strengthening conceptual understanding in both fields, and expanding students’ understanding of both experimental uncertainty and propagated error as constraints informing the design of an experiment rather than simply an unavoidable consequence of some procedure. We discuss the connections and describe several activities that help students explore the thread.

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Published

2021-06-24

How to Cite

Hill, G., & More, T. (2021). Connecting Experimental Uncertainty to Calculus and to Engineering Design . Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i5.4281

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Section

Articles