Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

[Phys-L] Re: course goals




I'm real uneasy about describing problem solve as "apply equations to
word problems."

Actually they should be able to apply graphical analysis, or pictorial
analysis (motion or strobe diagrams), or equations. Kinematical problems
are often much more easily solved by graphs than by equations. Consider:

Look at activity 16
http://umperg.physics.umass.edu/projects/MindsOnPhysics/MOPSamples

Overemphasizing equations encourages mindless algorithmic problem solving.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX