On the use of Video Based analysis and coding for solving problems in mechanics

Abstract

Creating constructivist inquiry based active classrooms the teacher has to resort to 
new methods of teaching. To make mechanics concepts more meaningful and visible we propose 
the use of an open source software Tracker, which can be easily downloaded.  Teaching of 
fundamental concepts of mechanics can be easily done by visualizing and analyzing the motion 
of the objects in the Tracker software environment.  In this article we deal with some mechanics 
problems (free fall, determination of acceleration of mass in string using Atwood machine, 
coefficient of restitution and simple harmonic motion) and how they can be visualized and solved 
using the tracker software. This software can be very useful right from high school students to 
college students for analyzing different types of motions. This method is also known as video 
based analysis (VBA) method. This method can widely be used across different problems of 
mechanics and can be helpful in effective teaching learning process. Coding is a necessary skill 
that all students need regardless of their field. It helps them visualize the problem and hence 
understand it more deeply in some cases. In this paper we also present the results of using 
coding and video analysis for selected mechanics problems on a group of students. These 
approaches help the students in visualizing the mechanics problems and also developing the 
mathematical modeling skills.