Frames of Reference

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Frames of Reference
Directed by Richard Leacock
Written byProfessors Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey
Produced by Physical Science Study Committee
StarringProfessors Donald Ivey and Patterson Hume
CinematographyAbraham Morochnik
Release date
Running time
27 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Frames of Reference is a 1960 black-and-white educational film directed by Richard Leacock, written and presented by Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey, and produced for the Physical Science Study Committee. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

The film was made to be shown in high school physics courses and humor is employed both to hold students' interest and to demonstrate the concepts being discussed. In the film, University of Toronto physics professors Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey explain the distinction between inertial and noninertial frames of reference, [1] while demonstrating these concepts through humorous camera tricks. For example, the film opens with Dr. Hume, who appears to be upside down, accusing Dr. Ivey of being upside down. Only when the pair flip a coin and it floats up does it become obvious that Dr. Ivey  and the camera  are indeed inverted. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Turner, Joseph (4 May 1962). "Art for Science's Sake". Science . 136 (3514): 359. Bibcode:1962Sci...136..357T. doi:10.1126/science.136.3514.357. PMID   17798053.