Words and Concepts Physics( was causation)

[SSHS KPHOX <kphox@CHERRYCREEKSCHOOLS.ORG>]

Forum for Physics Educators <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu> writes:
> This is a very good point.  IMHO, the concept of "force" is one that we
> have created to help explain why things behave the way they do.  It is
> certainly not in the realm of fundamentals, such as momentum and energy.

This thread on Causation has been a wonderful exercise for me. Thank you
all!

In my way of thinking all these words we have been bantering about (Force,
momentum, energy, field etc) are all human creations to help us understand
what is going on.

I am reminded of Feynman's reflection on his father's explanation of why
the ball "went to the back of the wagon". Inertia is a word we have
invented to represent a concept that is associated with a behavior of
matter. Why did the ball stay behind? Is inertia the cause or the lack of
an agent (force) to make it accelerate? {I hold the latter view.}
We,humans, want to know why things behave as they do. We seek causes for
effects. We do that in all disciplines of study, not just Physics.

 As we educate students and ourselves, our understanding matures but I
doubt we can start with total understanding on day one. I, for one, find
the idea of explaining centrifuges as some sort of field fascinating, but
would hesitate to use that model with high school students. It is an
interesting thought, however, and could be a unifying theme for the entire
course. I would need to understand why that field is there though. What
causes it ? ;-)


Ken Fox