Re: Multiple variable reasoning (Was: Appropriate for Gen Phys? was: comprehending electric/magneticinteractions)

[James Mackey <jmackey@HARDING.EDU>]

Jack Uretsky wrote:

> While I agree with the "difficulty" I disagree with John's
> assessment of the source of the "difficulty".
>        The inability of students to apply lessons learned in one
> situation to other situations is, IMO, closely related to their lack of
> understanding of the nature of proof in mathematics.  Further, the
> recommended curricula for K-12 seems to make little attempt to teach
> this.  If you haven't looked at high school math texts in a few decades,
> you're in for a treat.
If I understand this to say that the physics reasoning deficiencies and
the lack of ability to apply priciples in different situation stems in
large part from the lack of the understanding of "Proof" in mathematics,
then I would have to say that I find that unconvincing.  The weakest
single group of students that I have each semester in calculus intro
physics are mathematics majors (almost always seniors who have had all
of the proof-thorem courses).  They have great difficulty applying any
principle to alternate situations, even more than the engineering
students.  At least in my experience I do not see any benefit from this
type of resoning applied to physical principles.  Admittedly this is a
declining number of students as the Math Department drops almost all
physics requirements for a degree, but even in the days 10 years ago
when 20-25% of the class were math majors, my observations were the same.
James Mackey