R: Scientific method was physical pendulums/ an opportunity

[Paolo Cavallo <ton0621@IPERBOLE.BOLOGNA.IT>]

----- Original Message -----
From: JACK L. URETSKY (C)1998; HEP DIVISION, ARGONNE NATIONAL LAB ARGONNE,
IL 60439 <JLU@HEP.ANL.GOV>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 1999 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Scientific method was physical pendulums/ an opportunity


>         Yeh!  Even more blatant, I think, is that gravity problems are
independent
> of mass.  But getting the students to do algebra, and watch the mass
cancel out
> (or leaving only mass ratios) is an impossibility.  It makes me wonder
about the
> big push, currently, to introduce algebra in the lower grades.  Yes, you
can teach
> them to mouth the words (or write down symbols), but doesn't it take
maturity to
> understand the meaning (or use the symbols to solve problems)?

Forgive me, but I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean that students coming
from high school are unable to use algebra and solve
    m a = m g
and the like symbolically? Please take no offence from my question, just
laugh at my poor understanding of English language.

Paolo Cavallo - Italy