Conceptual physics

Conceptual physics is an approach to teaching physics that focuses on the ideas of physics rather than the often daunting mathematics. It is believed that with a strong conceptual foundation in physics, students are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics, and to make connections between the concepts of physics and their everyday life. Early versions used almost no equations or math-based problems.[1]

Paul G. Hewitt popularized this approach with his textbook Conceptual Physics: A New Introduction to your Environment in 1971.[2] In his review at the time, Kenneth Ford noted the emphasis on logical reasoning and said "Hewitt's excellent book can be called physics without equations, or physics without computation, but not physics without mathematics."[3] Hewitt's wasn't the first book to take this approach. Conceptual Physics: Matter in Motion by Jae R. Ballif and William E. Dibble was published in 1969.[4] But Hewitt's book became very successful. As of 2014 it is in its twelfth edition.[5] In 1987 Hewitt wrote a version for high school students.[6]

The spread of the conceptual approach to teaching physics broadened the range of students taking physics in high school.[7] Enrollment in conceptual physics courses in high school grew from 25,000 students in 1987 to over 400,000 in 2009. In 2009, 37% of students took high school physics, and 31% of them were in Physics First, conceptual physics courses, or regular physics courses using a conceptual textbook.[8]

This approach to teaching physics has also inspired books for science literacy courses, such as From Atoms to Galaxies: A Conceptual Physics Approach to Scientific Awareness by Sadri Hassani.[9]

References
  1. Hewett, Paul G. (1985). Conceptual Physics (5th ed.). Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-35974-2.
  2. Hewitt, Paul G. (1971). Conceptual Physics: A New Introduction to your Environment. Little, Brown and Co.
  3. Ford, Kenneth W. (October 1971). "Conceptual Physics: A New Introduction to Your Environment". Physics Today. 24 (10): 54–55. Bibcode:1971PhT....24j..54H. doi:10.1063/1.3022390. S2CID 60300696.
  4. Ballif, Jae R.; William E. Dibble (1969). Conceptual Physics: Matter in Motion. Wiley.
  5. Hewett, Paul G. (2014). Conceptual Physics (12th ed.). Pearson. ISBN 978-0-321-90910-7.
  6. Hewitt, Paul G. (2009). Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program (3rd ed.). Pearson/Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-133-64749-5.
  7. Hehn, Jack; Michael Neuschatz (February 2006). "Physics For All? A Million and Counting!" (PDF). Physics Today. 59 (2): 37–43. Bibcode:2006PhT....59b..37H. doi:10.1063/1.2186280.
  8. White, Susan; Casey Langer Tesfaye (August 2010). "High School Physics Courses and Enrollments". Focus on. American Institute of Physics Statistical Research Center.
  9. Hassani, Sadri (2010). From Atoms to Galaxies: A Conceptual Physics Approach to Scientific Awareness. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4398-0849-8.


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