CVL
Home Page
Introduction
This
webpage describes the creation of a Computation and Visualization
Laboratory (CVL) meant to integrate hands-on, inquiry-based
activities into mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology
courses at Carthage College . The interdisciplinary nature
of the CVL allows students in 26 introductory and advanced
courses across four departments to discover important physical
and mathematical concepts for themselves. Classroom and
laboratory activities developed in the CVL for Biology,
General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Mathematics
and Physics courses are presented. For example, students
explore molecular geometry and polarity in General Chemistry.
In Physical Chemistry, students plot and analyze phase diagrams,
rate equations, wavefunctions, and velocity distributions.
In Biochemistry, students classify amino acids based on
structure and function, construct families of protein folds
and manipulate gene and protein sequences. The broader impact
of the facility across natural science departments at the
College are also presented.
Hardware
•
19 Systemax Pentium III
PC’s, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB Hard Drives, Floppy and CD-ROM Drives,
Windows 98
•
Two HP Black and White
and One HP Color Laser Printers
•
Toshiba Computer Projector
Software
| Periodic
Table Live |
Spartan
|
Alchemy
2000 |
Mathcad |
| Mathematica
|
Rasmol
|
Boltzmann
|
Sigma Plot |
| Kaleidagraph |
Diatomic |
Logic
Works |
IR
Tutor |
|
Starry Night Pro |
Electric
Field Hockey |
Data
Studio |
Graphs
and Tracks |
| Interactive
Physics |
|
|
|
Acknowledgements
•
The CVL
was created with a CCLI grant from the National
Science Foundation.
•
A Kresge
Science Initiative Challenge Grant from the Kresge
Foundation has been used to maintain the machines.
