Frames of Reference
Encyclopedia
Frames of Reference is a 1960 educational film
by Physical Sciences Study Committee
.
The film was made to be shown in high school physics courses. In the film University of Toronto
physics
professors Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey
explain the distinction between inertial
and nonintertial
frames of reference
, while demonstrating these concepts through humorous camera tricks. For example, the film opens with Dr. Hume, who appears to be upside down, accusing Dr. Ivey of being upside down. Only when the pair flip a coin does it become obvious that Dr. Ivey — and the camera — are indeed inverted.
The film's humor serves both to hold students' interest and to demonstrate the concepts being discussed.
Educational film
An educational film is a film or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational films have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods.-Cultural significance:...
by Physical Sciences Study Committee
Physical Sciences Study Committee
The Physical Science Study Committee was inaugurated at MIT in 1956 with the objective of reviewing introductory physics education and designing and monitoring improvements...
.
The film was made to be shown in high school physics courses. In the film University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
professors Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey
Donald Ivey
Donald G. Ivey was the principal of the University of Toronto's New College from 1963 to 1974.-Brief Biography:"In collaboration with his colleague Patterson Hume, Ivey helped to steer the direction of physics teaching in a new direction through the use of educational television programs and movies...
explain the distinction between inertial
Inertial frame of reference
In physics, an inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference that describes time homogeneously and space homogeneously, isotropically, and in a time-independent manner.All inertial frames are in a state of constant, rectilinear motion with respect to one another; they are not...
and nonintertial
Non-inertial reference frame
A non-inertial reference frame is a frame of reference that is under acceleration. The laws of physics in such a frame do not take on their most simple form, as required by the theory of special relativity...
frames of reference
Frame of reference
A frame of reference in physics, may refer to a coordinate system or set of axes within which to measure the position, orientation, and other properties of objects in it, or it may refer to an observational reference frame tied to the state of motion of an observer.It may also refer to both an...
, while demonstrating these concepts through humorous camera tricks. For example, the film opens with Dr. Hume, who appears to be upside down, accusing Dr. Ivey of being upside down. Only when the pair flip a coin does it become obvious that Dr. Ivey — and the camera — are indeed inverted.
The film's humor serves both to hold students' interest and to demonstrate the concepts being discussed.