[BUG] Placement of labs "Acceleration" & "Finding dr"

[Stuart Boersma]

Tevian,

I'll ask you this question, but also post it to the entire list in case
others have suggestions.

In my 3rd quarter Calculus class I was planning on using the labs
"Acceleration" and "Finding dr" shortly after introducing the ideas of
Vectors (Chapter 13 in Hughes-Hallett et al).  I thought this would
provide a nice introduction to the polar basis vectors as well as seeing
vectors used at the "differential level".  Two concerns:
1.  Polar Coordinates are not even mentioned in this text until chapter
16 for use in multiple integrals.
2.  Parameterized curves (the language used in the "Acceleration" lab)
are not introduced until even later (Ch. 17). 

Possible solutions that I see are:
A. Introduce both these topics earlier (which for me means taking
material from our 4th quarter course and putting it into our 3rd quarter
course).  This would be hard to implement in our large department
(keeping a standard syllabus is important).

B. Postponing these labs until the material has been introduced
naturally.  But his would require doing it AFTER we cover the gradient
vector.  Which means we wouldn't have the Master Formula when
introducing the gradient, directional derivatives, chain rule, etc.

C. Do what you suggested in your second sample syllabi: Do "Finding dr"
first (right after taling about partial derivatives) and "Acceleration"
much later when talking about parametric curves.  Except it appears that
"Acceleration" really does introduce the basis vectors r (hat) and phi
(hat) that "Finding dr" relies on. 

Do you (or anyone) have some other suggestions?

Thanks a bunch,

Stuart