Re: Why Physics First?

[Hugh Haskell <hhaskell@MINDSPRING.COM>]

At 16:43 -0400 10/10/02, S Goelzer wrote:
> I really disagree with the idea that physics can be made so simple. It
> is already evident from a current thread that acceleration is very
> difficult to teach to upper levels. Having spent some years trying to
> teach the acceleration concept to freshman has made me believe that
> most of them are not old enough to 'get' rate of a rate. Does not
> matter how many demos or activities ( I do many) - only a very few can
> get it. Not their fault, they are not ready.  The most they can
> identify is change or no change in speed; rate of change is too hard.
> According to the NH strands for curriculum, freshman should be studying
> physics, chem, and earth sci.  Our school does about 2 quarters physics
> (heavy on energy), basic chemistry for 1 quarter, earth science for the
> last quarter.  Physics is then offered to Juniors and Seniors.
>
> I prefer to have Juniors take physics. They are just about ready  and
> have finished Algebra and Geometry. Physics is hands-on and concrete
> for most of my students. Students who then move on to the abstract
> studies in chemistry are better prepared.
I didn't say it was being made simple, only that you can do it
without having to worry about math most of the kids haven't had yet.
Almost all of the concepts we hold dear can be taught in one
dimension. If the students understand what goes on in one dimension,
then extending to two, three, four or even more dimensions is not all
that difficult, and can easily wait until they are more mature.

Yes, acceleration is a difficult topic for the students to
understand. All the more reason for keeping it in one dimension until
they can see what is going on. They don't need to do trig on inclined
planes to understand what is going on. There is time for that later.
If they see the same ideas that they learned earlier in one dimension
now expanded to two and three dimensions, the reinforcement of what
they already have learned once will make the extension that much
easier.

Hugh
--

Hugh Haskell
<mailto:haskell@ncssm.edu>
<mailto:hhaskell@mindspring.com>

(919) 467-7610

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This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or the AAPT.