Available online
Description
This programme begins by showing how the Open University home kit can be used to perform elementary mathematical operations, Addition and integration are demonstrated. A medium sized commercial ana...logue computer is used to demonstrate how the addition of sine waves can produce a square wave. Then the home kit is used to solve a first order differential equation, that models the multiplication of bacteria under particularly favourable conditions. The programme concludes with an analysis of a car suspension system in terms of second order differential equations. Models of this system are solved using the commercial analogue computer again.
This programme begins by showing how the Open University home kit can be used to perform elementary mathematical operations, Addition and integration are demonstrated. A medium sized commercial ana...logue computer is used to demonstrate how the addition of sine waves can produce a square wave. Then the home kit is used to solve a first order differential equation, that models the multiplication of bacteria under particularly favourable conditions. The programme concludes with an analysis of a car suspension system in terms of second order differential equations. Models of this system are solved using the commercial analogue computer again.
| Module code and title: | T100, The man-made world: a foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | T100; 15 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:21:27 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Ted Smith |
| Contributors: | Jon Hargrave; Geoffrey Holister |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Addition; Bacteria; Differential equation; Elementary mathematical operations; Fourier Synthesis; Integration; Models; Sine waves; Square wave; Suspension system |
| Footage description: | Shot of Holister standing next to a large commercial analogue computer. He introduces the unit. Hargrave with home analogue kit. He demonstrates addition of steady voltages. The voltages are shown on meters. Holister with a circuit diagram to show what happened electronically in the addition performed and then with an analogue diagram. Hargrave with commercial analogue computer. The sum is done again and the results shown on the oscilloscope. 3 wave forms are added together by the computer and the sum, another wave, is displayed. Fourier Synthesis is demonstrated. Holister discusses ability of analogue computer to perform integration. He shows diagram of electronic circuit capable of doing integration. He then shows the equivalent analogue diagram. Hargrave with analogue computer. Integration is performed and displayed on the oscilloscope. Hargrave shows the operation again using a diagram. Holister sums up the operations an analogue computer is capable of performing. Film (under magnification) showing a bacteria colony multiplying. Holister with diagram of the equations needed to determine population increase. He defines the mathematical relationships between the variables which occur. Holister with mathematical block diagram and then with an analogue diagram. He explains how the problem of determining population increase is solved mathematically and by the analogue computer. Hargrave with large analogue computer. The computer is set to work on the bacteria population increase problem. The results are displayed on an oscilloscope screen. Hargrave takes up the problem of determining the action of a car's suspension system in advance. Shots of Hargrave with: Picture of a car showing the suspension system; Simplified diagram of the car suspension system. Very simplified diagram of car suspension system. Analogue computer diagram of the suspension system prediction problem. Hargrave with home kit analogue computer. He sets up the kit to solve the car suspension problem. Results are displayed on oscilloscope screen. Hargrave displays various values.for the shock absorbers on the screen in order to show the various solutions possible. Holister with simplified diagram of a car suspension system. He introduces new elements to make the problem more sophisticated - inherent springiness of tyres, weight of wheel plus part of axle. Hargrave works out various solutions to the car suspension problem using the new more sophisticated input. Various tracings are shown on the oscilloscope for both car and wheel position. |
| Master spool number: | 6LT/70421 |
| Production number: | 00521_2525 |
| Videofinder number: | 2159 |
| Available to public: | no |
