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Intuitive Physics

Research into intuitive physics demonstrates that a large percentage of the population holds strikingly erroneous views about basic physical principles that govern the motions of objects in the world; a world in which they act and behave quite successfully. Think about the statement “heavier things fall faster”. It is false, but without more thought would appear true. Researchers hold two dominant views concerning similar errors in intuitive physics, task-specific and task-independent. We are trying to get a comprehensive understanding of intuitive physics by integrating task-specific and task-independent approaches. Our previous research has shown that intuitive physics performance may be an assessment of a general mechanical reasoning disposition. We are currently using a virtual world in hopes of highlighting this disposition in intuitive physics tasks.

1) The diagram shows a curved tube, lying flat on a table. A BB is shot into the opening and out the other end. With your finger on the page, draw the BB's path through the tube and after it shoots out the tube.


2) While flying at a constant speed, a plane drops a bowling ball. Draw the path the ball will follow (ignoring wind resistance) and show where the plane will be as the ball hits the ground. If a BB were dropped at the same time as the bowling ball, which would hit the ground first?


Researchers Cedar Riener
Publications Riener, C. R., Proffitt, D., & Salthouse, T. (2005). A psychometric approach to intuitive physics. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 12(4), 740-746.
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Riener, C., Proffitt, D., & Salthouse, T. (2002, March) Intuitive Physics: Across Tasks and Age. Poster session presented at the annual University of Virginia Graduate Research Fair, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Riener, C., Proffitt, D ., & Salthouse, T. (2002, April) Intuitive physics: Across tasks and age. Poster presented at the bi-annual meeting of the Cognitive Aging Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

 

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