This site provides users with an excellent simulation tool where users can interactively visualize the geometrical representation for the cross sections of various shapes such as cones, prisms, pyramids, and cylinders. The user can manipulate the cross section with slider bars, and see how the graphical representation changes.
Type of Material:
Simulation
Recommended Uses:
In-class activity, lecture example, course project, supplemental resources, assignments for Calculus III course.
It can be used for individual and group work in class, homework, self-directed learning
Technical Requirements:
It is an interactive and dynamical HTML site and users can easily access the site from any browser. The reviewers tested it on Safari, Google Crome, Edge and Opera.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
This activity provides students with an online simulation tool that can be easily used to visualize the cross sections of various cones, cylinders, prisms, and pyramids. This is the intersection of the sliced plane and the 3-D object. This is helpful for students of the Calculus III course because they have to visualize the shapes of cones, prisms, pyramids, and cylinders in order to find the cross-sectional area or volume. Cross sections can be difficult for students to understand, given that the concept requires that students switch between three-dimensional shapes and two-dimensional representations of those shapes. While this applet was designed to help students create and visualize cross sections of different solids, some students may also benefit from hands-on activities where they can physically slice open various solids before attempting more abstract explorations such as this applet.
Target Student Population:
Students taking the Calculus III course. Students in engineering and physics courses such as Electromagnetics can also benefit from this simulation applet.
It can be applicable for high school, college general Ed, and college lower division studnets.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Calculus II and General Physics II
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This site provides users with an interactive simulation applet that can be used to graphically represent the cross sections of various shapes such as cones, prisms, pyramids, and cylinders. This site has four sections: Learner, Activity, Help, and Instructor. Those sections contain summaries, instructions, and addition resources to guide both students and instructors how to use and benefit from this simulation tool.
Concerns:
None
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Both the instructor and student can use this site in the Calculus/conics class as an in-class activity or a part of the lecture when the instructor can help students visualize the geometrical representation of cross sections.
Concerns:
None
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Students and instructors can access this simulation applet in this site easily. The help section of this site provides users with step-by-step explanation of how they can use this simulation tool, linked to national curriculum areas.
Concerns:
None
Creative Commons:
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