Playing physics jeopardy

This article presents a new format for physics problems that is similar to the game show Jeopardy in which contestants are given the answer to a quest ion and asked to state the question. In Physics Jeopardy, the problem start s with a mathematical equation, a graph or a diagram that describes a physi cal process. The solver constructs other representations of thr problem inc luding a word or picture description of a problem and process that is consi stent with the equation, graph, or diagram. The Jeopardy Problem solution b ecomes an effort to represent a physical process in a variety of ways-sketc hes, diagrams, graphs, and equations-more like the method used by experienc ed physicists when analyzing problems. (C) 1999 American Association of Phy sics Teachers.