Some misconceptions about physics are hard to change. For example, students continue to believe that heavier objects fall faster than light ones, even after a year of physics instruction. Physics misconceptions are persistent. Light objects do fall more slowly if their size-to-weight ratio is sufficient for drag to be appreciable. Motion through a viscous medium is an advanced topic and students are asked to hold their curiosity until they take a more advanced course. Most never will. We suggest that the idea that heavier objects fall faster (or lighter objects fall slower) is a reasonable approximation that people develop from observing the world around them. We also suggest that discussing drag qualitatively at the outset may allow students to reconcile what they learn in physics class with a concept formed in early childhood. This approach asks students to modify their concept rather than discard it. In this paper we present a simple physics lab experiment that can be performed with readily available equipment and which bridges the gap between the domains of constant velocity and constant acceleration free fall. It is motivated by a lab experiment described in Paul Robinson's laboratory manual.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.