As a 30-year veteran teacher in the physics classroom, I have been asked many times to prove it! On demand I must show my students that the information I am lecturing on is true. As we spend countless hours learning how to use math to apply the laws of physics, students begin to lose sight that what we are writing on paper is reflective of what we experience in the physical world.
Using the laws of conservation of energy, measuring the effects of friction, and combining this with the math for the two-dimensional motion of a projectile, one can predict the destiny of a small marble’s fate as it rolls down a simple ramp constructed from foam pipe insulation. I have a vivid memory of one student shouting in amazement when his team correctly calculated the exact spot for a marble to land as it rolled off a curved ramp onto the marked target on the floor. He just couldn’t believe it worked. I was intrigued by his enthusiasm because we had completed similar calculations throughout the week. I supposed he didn’t trust what we were doing on paper until he saw it work with his own eyes. He was just going through the routine of completing the calculations without recognizing the reality behind his work. Having taught this content for many years, I imagine I lost the appreciation of experiencing this simple calculation for the first time. For my student, maybe there was a bit of doubt that led to his utter shock. I asked, “Why are you so surprised? We have been doing these calculations for days.”
