Aristotle is Not Dead: Student Understanding of Trajectory Motion

Abstract

The study of motion presents problems to students of beginning physics at all levels. Part of this problem arises because of students' ''common sense'' ideas of motion. Six questions on trajectory motion, based on Galileo's ''thought experiments'' in his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, were given to students in several different introductory physics classes. These responses are analyzed and discussed.

Department(s)

Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13247

Publication Date

1983

Journal Title

American Journal of Physics

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