Improving Transitions Between Sophomore Dynamics and Junior Dynamic Systems Courses

This paper describes two course modifications to sophomore dynamics to improve visualization skills and to improve knowledge transfer from sophomore to junior courses. The first course modification involves the use of SolidWorks motion simulations to visualize the motion of example problems taught throughout the course. The second course modification was the introduction of Lagrange’s equations of motion for conservative systems. An example problem is presented along with student feedback. Evaluation was performed using both the Dynamics Concept Inventory1 and student surveys.