Abstract:

SR battleship is a game-based learning tool built on the concepts of special relativity, a topic in modern physics. At the North-West University in South Africa, special relativity is taught in the second year of undergraduate physics degrees. It is fundamental in understanding space satellite communications, cosmology, atomic theory, and high-energy physics[1]. Problem-solving includes qualitative reasoning, the application of quantitative reasoning by using the Lorentz transformations or utilising a spacetime diagram[2]. Studies by Sherin et al. [3], Doat et al. [4], and Savage et al. [5] reported that special relativity is a topic that students find difficult to develop an intuition for; educators should anticipate misconceptions and be intentional about refining intuition. For this reason, it can be considered a natural step to be interested in modern computer simulation supplementary aids. Early work focusing on special relativity explored two main real-time rendering techniques; polygon[6] and ray-tracing[7]. After that, modern graphic cards were exploited to extend the classical rendering techniques, a solution presented by Weiskopf[8]. Later in 2010, Weiskopf [9] proposed a hybrid rendering technique. Savage et al. [5] created a game-like computer simulation mimicking movement at relativistic speeds. Later games like computer simulations, Real Time Relativity and OpenRelativity, were created by Saunders [10] and Sherin et al. [3], respectively, mainly focusing on visualising and imitating movement in 3D space. SR Battleship uses gaming to explore special relativity as a teaching tool. It differentiates itself from the previously mentioned in that students must move between the different forms of problem-solving representations in attempting to solve/ win the game.

References:
[1] Teaching special relativity without calculus. . Ruby, L. 2009, The Physics Teacher
[2] Modeling student thinking: An example from special relativity. Scherr, R. 2007, American Journal of Physics.
[3] Visualizing relativity: The openrelativity project. Sherin, Z, et al. 2016, American Journal of Physics
[4] A carom billiard to understand special relativity. Doat, T, et al. : IEEE, 2011. 2011 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference
[5] Real Time Relativity: Exploratory learning of special relativity. . Savage, C, et al 2007, American Journal of Physics
[6] Visualizing relativistic effects in spacetime,. Hsiung, P and Dunn, R. Reno, NV : Supercomputing '89, 1989. Proceedings of the 1989 ACM/IEEE Conference on Supercomputing.
[7] T-buffer: fast visualization of relativistic effects in space-time. . Hsiung, P, et al. 1990, SIGGRAPH Comput. Graph
[8] Explanatory and illustrative visualization of special and general relativity. Weiskopf, D, et al. 2006, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
[9] Special Relativistic Visualization by Local Ray Tracing. Weiskopf, D, et al. 2010, IEEE Transactions on Visualization & Computer Graphics
[10] Introducing special relativity using simple geometry. Saunders, I. 1972, Physics Education
[11] Exploring students' understanding of reference frames and time in Galilean and special relativity. de Hosson, C, et al. 2010, European Journal of Physics
[12] The challenge of changing deeply held student beliefs about the relativity of simultaneity. Scherr, R, et al. 2002, American Journal of Physics, pp. 1283-1248.

Keywords:

Special Relativity, game based learning, Modern Physics, undergraduate physics.