Re: the words used in problems

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

Suppose one is stuck in the middle of a frozen lack and one's shoes are
so slick that one cannot get any traction between one's shoes and the
surface.  Suppose one then takes one's shoe off and throws it as hard as
one can.  Describe one's subsequent motion.

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators 
> [mailto:PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu] On Behalf Of Bernard Cleyet
>
> I was taught correct English usage is one, not you.
>
> bc, who was taught half a century ago.
>
> > On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:33:32 -0600 "David T. Marx" <dtmarx@ILSTU.EDU>
> > writes:
> >
> > > I have wondering recently as to whether studies have been done in 
> > > which problems are written in different ways to determine students' 
> > > success or failure to answer them simply based on the way 
> in which the 
> > > problems are worded.  Also, I had heard recently that using 
> the word 
> > > "you" in a problem is better than using "a physics student" 
> or "Jimmy" 
> > > makes a difference in a student's ability to answer 
> questions.  Does 
> > > anyone have information on these issues?