The floating of objects on the moon: Prediction from a theory or experimental facts?
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Science Education
- Vol. 10 (1) , 61-70
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069880100106
Abstract
The results of an investigation concerned with schemes of commonsense knowledge connecting the elements weight, air and gravity to the phenomena of free fall are reported here. The research was conducted on samples of primary school children, secondary school and university students and adults who were non‐experts in physics. It was found that all levels from the secondary education level onwards, alternative commonsense schemes were held by the majority of people, who invoked air as a necessary factor for falling. Primary school children could be shown to hold the belief that the floating of objects on the moon is an experimental fact which may be explained by a force of gravity centred on the Earth.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Weight, gravity and air pressure: Mental representations by Italian middle school pupilsEuropean Journal of Science Education, 1985
- A survey of some children's ideas about forcePhysics Education, 1981