Wedekind.ES@Xerox.ARPA (10/10/85)
There is a series of programs about physics currently running on ch 58 in LA (6PM Tue/Thurs) called "The Mechanical Universe". The parts of Tuesday's program which I caught discussed calculus (the 1st and 2nd fundamental theorems and the Newton/Leibnitz controversy). It looks like this program won't go beyond first-year stuff, but it seemed very well done - clearly written with excellent graphics. I seem to remember that it forms part of a two-track college credit course. Unfortunately, this series has gotten almost no publicity; the only place I saw it mentioned was in the Caltech alumni paper a few months ago (Caltech made it, or at least had a major role). cheers, Jerry
ANDERSON.ES@Xerox.ARPA (10/11/85)
Jerry, By the way, I also saw "The Mechanical Universe" on KCET in LA (Channel 28) this past Wednesday around 3 or 4 PM. The subject was the fundamental forces of the universe - gravity and electricity - and I agree it was very well done. The graphics were just beautiful, i.e. taking you through a linear accelerator as though you were the atom itself being accelerated. There was plenty of 3D panning and zooming so you could see all the mechanics on the walls and the electromagnetic forces were represented with graphics so you could see the effects as you passed through them. Excellent. It is unfortunate it gets no publicity. I just happened upon it by chance. I think I'll start recording it weekly. Craig
jp@lanl.ARPA (10/14/85)
> Jerry, > > By the way, I also saw "The Mechanical Universe" on KCET in LA (Channel > 28) this past Wednesday around 3 or 4 PM. The subject was the > fundamental forces of the universe - gravity and electricity - and I > agree it was very well done. > > The graphics were just beautiful, i.e. taking you through a linear > accelerator as though you were the atom itself being accelerated. There > was plenty of 3D panning and zooming so you could see all the mechanics > on the walls and the electromagnetic forces were represented with > graphics so you could see the effects as you passed through them. > Excellent. > Does anyone know how I can get in touch with the originators of this series. I work with accelerators at los Alamos and we are interested in good ways to teach people at various levels about such things. It sounds pretty neat. Thanks, Jim Potter jp@lanl.arpa
thomas@utah-gr.UUCP (Spencer W. Thomas) (10/18/85)
The computer graphics for this program were done by Jim Blinn of JPL
(and computer graphics wizard extraordinaire).
--
=Spencer ({ihnp4,decvax}!utah-cs!thomas, thomas@utah-cs.ARPA)
"When wrath runs rampage in your heart you must hold still
that rambunctions tongue!" - Sappho