Albert Einstein WebQuest

Introduction

Most people know that Albert Einstein was a famous physics scientist, but many people don't know what his accomplishments were. Traditionally Einstein is not covered in a first year introductory physics class so this is an opportunity to investigate why Albert Einstein became such a prominent scientist in history!

 Image result for einstein

   

Task

As a group, prepare a PowerPoint or Google Slide presentation that showcases Einstein's major contributions to physics. The PowerPoint or Google Slide presentation should consist of 9 slides of information. You will then present your findings to the class. Your presentation should be limited to 4-6 minutes. Make sure to highlight how Einstein's findings are still relevant in today's society.

Image result for einstein

Process

Use the following guiding questions and resources to investigate what made Einstein so famous.

 

1. What is Einstein's theory of special relativity? Provide a clear example that explains his theory.

https://www.space.com/36273-theory-special-relativity.html

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/SpecialRelativity.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgH9KXEQ0YU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AInCqm5nCzw&t=5s

 

2. What are/were the benefits of the equation E = mc^2? Why is this equation so famous?

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/05/einstein-equation-emc2-special-relativity-alok-jha

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/01/23/the-three-meanings-of-emc2-einsteins-most-famous-equation/#57f083a571c0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW7DW9NIO9M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo232kyTsO0

 

3. What is Einstein's theory of general relativity? How is it different from his theory of special relativity?

https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html

https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/topics_relativity_general.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEZupmpTcOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwhKZ3fd9JA

 

4. What is the photoelectric effect? How did it pave the way for modern physics?

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/einstein-s-legacy-the-photoelectric-effect/

https://history.aip.org/exhibits/einstein/essay-photoelectric.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obfney9PuLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b0axfyJ4oo&t=4s

 

5. How is Einstein connected to Avogadro's number? What is the significance of this connection?

https://www.chemistryworld.com/feature/claiming-einstein-for-chemistry/3004544.article

http://www.chim.lu/ech0546.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKB3p5Iye50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrUBPO6zZ40

 

6. Einstein coined one of his concepts "spooky action at a distance." Explain what this means.

https://principia-scientific.org/einsteins-spooky-action-distance/

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/02/spooky-action-at-a-distance/516201/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz42YkX7HLw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuvK-od647c

 

7. How are Einstein's discoveries imprinted on today's technology?

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/genius/articles/technologies-today-thanks-to-einstein/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7318567/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/its-alberts-world-we-just-live-it/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3333250/How-Einstein-changed-world-theory-general-relativity-literally-LOST-without-it.html

https://www.gemalto.com/review/Pages/3-everyday-inventions-einstein-made-possible.aspx

Evaluation

Your group will be evaluated on your PowerPoint or Google Slides content and on your presentation to the class. Utilize the following rubrics to determine how your group will be evaluated. 

Content:

 

         Content

         Grammar

           Visual

         Originality

Great

 

(3 points)

- All 9 slides are completed

- An abundance of information that covers all objective questions

- Mastery of the assignment is clear

- Information is clearly organized

- There are no spelling or grammar mistakes

- Information is presented in complete sentences.

- Slides and information are clearly visible and readable

- Font is not too big or too small

- Pictures are used appropriately

- Evident that this project was done individually

- Information is put into own words

- Evident that student has a clear understanding of the material researched

Average

 

(2 points)

- All 9 slides are completed

- There is enough information to cover all objective questions

- Effort was given, but not to fullest extent

- Information is organized

- There are 1-2 spelling or grammar mistakes

- Information is presented in complete sentences

- Most of the slides and information are clearly visible and readable

- Most of the font is not too big or too small

- Pictures are used appropriately

- Evident that this project was done individually

- Most information is put into own words

- Evident that student has a clear understanding of material researched

Poor

 

(1 point)

- All 9 slides completed OR missing one slide

- Barely enough information to answer objective questions

- Very little effort given

- Information is partially organized

- There are 3-4 spelling or grammar mistakes

- Some information is presented in complete sentences

- Slides are not uniform, and information is not clearly visible

- Different size fonts throughout the powerpoint

- Too much or too little pictures

- Evident that this project was collaborated with another student

- Most information is not put into own words

- Student does not have a clear understanding of material researched

Incomplete

 

(0 points)

- Missing more than one slide

- Work turned in does not meet the standards of the assignment

- No effort given

- Information has no clear organization

- There are more than 3-4 spelling or grammar mistakes

- Most of the information is not presented in complete sentences

- Information is hard to read

- Slide backgrounds are too distracting

- Powerpoint looks messy

- Too much or too little pictures used

- PowerPoint slides were clearly copied from another students’ work

- All or most information was copied and pasted

- Student has little understanding of material researched

 

Presentation:

 

 Participation

          Clarity

  Organization

        Content

     Time

Great

 

(3 points)

- All students participated in the presentation

- Evident that students had equal roles in participating

- Each student took their role seriously

- All students spoke loud and clearly enough for the class to hear and understand what the group was saying

- Each student knew their role and when it was their turn to present

- Evident that the presentation was planned out and practiced

- The information that was presented was accurate and addressed the objective questions from the assignment

- Presentation took between 4 – 6 minutes

Average

 

(2 points)

- All students participated in the presentation

- Students’ roles were about equal

- Most students took their role seriously

- Most students spoke loud and clearly enough for the class to hear and understand what the group was saying

- Most students knew their role and when it was their turn to present

- Evident that the presentation was kind of planned out and practiced

- The information that was presented was mostly accurate and addressed the objective questions from the assignment

- Presentation was 30 seconds too short or 30 seconds too long

Poor

 

(1 point)

- 1 student did not participate

- Evident that students’ roles were not equal

- Half of students took their role seriously

- Half of the students spoke loud and clearly enough for the class to hear and understand what the group was saying

- Half of the students knew their role and when it was their turn to present

- Evident that the presentation was not planned out or practiced

- The information that was presented was mostly accurate and addressed some of the objective questions from the assignment

- Presentation was 31-60 seconds too short or 31-60 seconds too long

Incomplete

 

(0 points)

- More than 1 student did not participate

- Evident that students’ roles were not equal

- Most students did not take their role seriously

- Most students did not speak loud or clearly enough for the class to hear and understand what was being said

- Most students did not know their role or when it was time to present

- Evident that the presentation was not planned out

- The information that was presented was inaccurate and did not meet the standards of the assignment

- Presentation was more than 60 seconds too short or too long

Conclusion

Now that your hard work and research is complete you should be able to explain why Albert Einstein is thought of as the most famous and influential physicist of all time! You should also have an understanding of the long-lasting impact his discoveries have, even in our daily lives!

Image result for einstein

Credits

https://www.space.com/36273-theory-special-relativity.html

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/SpecialRelativity.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgH9KXEQ0YU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AInCqm5nCzw&t=5s

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/05/einstein-equation-emc2-special-relativity-alok-jha

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/01/23/the-three-meanings-of-emc2-einsteins-most-famous-equation/#57f083a571c0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW7DW9NIO9M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo232kyTsO0

https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html

https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/topics_relativity_general.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEZupmpTcOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwhKZ3fd9JA

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/einstein-s-legacy-the-photoelectric-effect/

https://history.aip.org/exhibits/einstein/essay-photoelectric.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obfney9PuLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b0axfyJ4oo&t=4s

https://www.chemistryworld.com/feature/claiming-einstein-for-chemistry/3004544.article

http://www.chim.lu/ech0546.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKB3p5Iye50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrUBPO6zZ40

https://principia-scientific.org/einsteins-spooky-action-distance/

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/02/spooky-action-at-a-distance/516201/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz42YkX7HLw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuvK-od647c

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/genius/articles/technologies-today-thanks-to-einstein/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7318567/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/its-alberts-world-we-just-live-it/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3333250/How-Einstein-changed-world-theory-general-relativity-literally-LOST-without-it.html

https://www.gemalto.com/review/Pages/3-everyday-inventions-einstein-made-possible.aspx