Activity: Partial Derivatives from a Contour Map
In this sequence of small whiteboard questions, students are shown the contour graph of a function of two variables and asked to find the derivative. They discover that, without a function to differentiate, they must instead think of the derivative as a ratio of small changes. This requires them to pick two nearby points. Which two?
- assignment_ind Small White Board Question 10 min. Student handout (PDF)
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This activity is used in the following sequences
1. Gradient Sequence | Contours >>
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Media
This is a graph of the function \(f(x,y)\):
- Find the derivative of this function.
- Find the derivative of this function at the leftmost of the indicated points.
- Find the partial derivative of this function with respect to \(x\) at the leftmost of the indicated points.
Instructor's Guide
This activity is a set of SWBQ questions about finding a partial derivative from a contour graph. Show the contour graph and then ask, in an appropriate order depending on student responses:
- Find the derivative of this function.
- Find the derivative of this function at the leftmost of the indicated points.
- Find the partial derivative of this function at the leftmost of the indicated points with respect to \(x\).
Student Conversations
See the comments in the solution to the Student Handout.- assignment Contours
assignment Homework
Contours
Static Fields 2023 (6 years)Shown below is a contour plot of a scalar field, \(\mu(x,y)\). Assume that \(x\) and \(y\) are measured in meters and that \(\mu\) is measured in kilograms. Four points are indicated on the plot.
- Determine \(\frac{\partial\mu}{\partial x}\) and \(\frac{\partial\mu}{\partial y}\) at each of the four points.
- On a printout of the figure, draw a qualitatively accurate vector at each point corresponding to the gradient of \(\mu(x,y)\) using your answers to part a above. How did you choose a scale for your vectors? Describe how the direction of the gradient vector is related to the contours on the plot and what property of the contour map is related to the magnitude of the gradient vector.
- Evaluate the gradient of \(h(x,y)=(x+1)^2\left(\frac{x}{2}-\frac{y}{3}\right)^3\) at the point \((x,y)=(3,-2)\).
- group Quantifying Change
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
Quantifying Change
In this activity, students will explore how to calculate a derivative from measured data. Students should have prior exposure to differential calculus. At the start of the activity, orient the students to the contour plot - it's busy. - group Sequential Stern-Gerlach Experiments
group Small Group Activity
10 min.
Sequential Stern-Gerlach Experiments
Quantum Fundamentals 2023 (3 years) - group Directional Derivatives
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
Directional Derivatives
Vector Calculus I 2022 This small group activity using surfaces relates the geometric definition of directional derivatives to the components of the gradient vector. Students work in small groups to measure a directional derivative directly, then compare its components with measured partial derivatives in rectangular coordinates. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the relationship between the geometric gradient vector and directional derivatives. - assignment Effective Potential Diagrams
assignment Homework
Effective Potential Diagrams
Central Forces 2023See also the following more detailed problem and solution: Effective Potentials: Graphical Version
An electron is moving on a two dimension surface with a radially symmetric electrostatic potential given by the graph below:
- Sketch the effective potential if the angular momentum is not zero.
- Describe qualitatively, the shapes of all possible types of orbits, indicating the energy for each in your diagram.
- group Gravitational Force
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
Gravitational Force
Mechanics Gravitational Force Gravitational Potential Energy Derivatives Introductory Physics
Students examine a plastic "surface" graph of the gravitational potential energy of a Earth-satellite system to make connections between gravitational force and gravitational potential energy. - group ``Squishability'' of Water Vapor (Contour Map)
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
“Squishability” of Water Vapor (Contour Map)
Students determine the “squishibility” (an extensive compressibility) by taking \(-\partial V/\partial P\) holding either temperature or entropy fixed. - group The Hillside
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
The Hillside
Vector Calculus I 2022 (2 years) Students work in groups to measure the steepest slope and direction on a plastic surface, and to compare their result with the gradient vector, obtained by measuring its components (the slopes in the coordinate directions). - group Heat and Temperature of Water Vapor
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
Heat and Temperature of Water Vapor
In this introduction to heat capacity, students determine a derivative that indicates how much the internal energy changes as the temperature changes when volume is held constant. - group Number of Paths
group Small Group Activity
30 min.
Number of Paths
Student discuss how many paths can be found on a map of the vector fields \(\vec{F}\) for which the integral \(\int \vec{F}\cdot d\vec{r}\) is positive, negative, or zero. \(\vec{F}\) is conservative. They do a similar activity for the vector field \(\vec{G}\) which is not conservative.
- Learning Outcomes
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