What is Conceptual physics: Definition and 31 Discussions

Conceptual physics is an approach to teaching physics that focuses on the ideas of physics rather than the 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.Paul G. Hewitt popularized this approach with his textbook Conceptual Physics: A New Introduction to your Environment in 1971. 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." 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. But Hewitt's book became very successful. As of 2014 it is in its twelfth edition. In 1987 Hewitt wrote a version for high school students.The spread of the conceptual approach to teaching physics broadened the range of students taking physics in high school. 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.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.

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  1. Florian Geyer

    B The application of Newton's laws to fluid equilibrium

    Hello respected members, I have been studying Sears and Zemansky's university physics, and I have encountered the following statement. I could not understand it well, so my question is: Why is fluid equilibrium based on Newton's first and third laws? Here is my try: - Newton's first law...
  2. Florian Geyer

    I A question with regard to Hooke's and Kepler's laws

    Hello esteemed members, I have been studying some physics and I have the mentioned laws, but I have understood that the first law (elasticity modulus equals the stress over strain) ##e=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon}## is valid only to limited range, and the second one is just a result of Newton's...
  3. Silverhobbiest

    I Significant Physical/Chemical Change Found by Sign Reversal?

    We know that "plastic" and "glass" charges were arbitrarily assigned to be negative and positive respectively, and electrons and protons were given their charges based upon that assignment (According to Randall D. Knight in Physics for Scientists and Engineers). I am curious if any significant...
  4. devilish_wit

    Short conceptual question on Work, Energy and Forces

    Homework Statement (Please check the attached image) 2. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Those are my answers. I thought the magnitude of the applied force would be bigger because that would be responsible of keeping the block on that spot without having it pulled back by the...
  5. C

    What is conceptual physics?

    I have been wondering, what is conceptual physics? I remember taking a class in high school that was physics oriented, for example two trains leave a station at different speeds, and arrive at a central point, where do they overlap. Also there were trig functions on how to find the height of a...
  6. F

    A1v1=a2v2? pressure and velocity are inversely proportional?

    If Bernoulli's equation P + 1/2ρv2 + ρgh = constant, implying that pressure decreases as velocity increases, and the Venturi effect states that a1v1 = a2v, what resolves this apparent contradiction? The velocity slows as the cross sectional area increases, but a narrower pipe would have greater...
  7. F

    Real image appears in front of the mirror?

    Is there a simple way to determine or prove this? Real images are always inverted, and unlike virtual images can be projected onto a screen (I'm not even sure what this means to be honest). If I look at the back end of a spoon (convex mirror), the image is always upright and therefore virtual...
  8. P

    Intro Physics Conceptual Physics 9th Edition Paul Hewitt

    Hello, I bought conceptual physics 9th edition by Paul Hewitt. A teach recommended it to me to study conceptual physics/conceptual physics GRE problems. I can't find a teacher's manual or answer key though. It seems pointless to work though problems without it. Does anyone know if this exists or...
  9. D

    Teach Summer School Conceptual Physics in 6 Weeks

    I have six weeks (19 school days) to teach half-a-course worth's of material to the students who failed Conceptual Physics. I have five days to teach: What is physics, the concepts and some basic problems of linear motion, and all three Newton's laws. Alas, the first three days haven't...
  10. L

    How to deal with conceptual Physics after learning advanced math?

    Hi all, I've started the course of Physics at college last year and I need some advice right now. My main areas of interest are General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, and these theories as well as every math needed to understand them wouldn't be covered in the course in detail (General...
  11. K

    Best conceptual physics book for High Schoolers?

    I am not sure if this belongs here (My first post), and please move it or delete if need be. I am only a high schooler, with basic algebra/precalc knowledge moving to Calc BC next year along with Physics C. I do not want any of the prep book mumbo jumbo. I just want a physics books that...
  12. K

    Conceptual Physics Homework Questions

    Homework Statement A large barge filled with scrap iron is in a canal lock. If the iron is thrown overboard, does the water level at the side of the lock, rise, fall, or remain unchanged? Homework Equations None. I like math a lot but this class I'm taking is a prerequisite to...
  13. K

    Conceptual physics homework, easy, but understanding

    Homework Statement Bronco Brown wants to put Ft =∆mv to the test and try bungee jumping. Bronco leaps from a high cliff and experiences free fall for 3 seconds. Then the bungee cord begins to stretch, reducing his speed to zero in 2 seconds. Fortunately, the cord stretches to its maximum...
  14. W

    Conceptual Physics Exercise Questions

    I'm taking Conceptual Physics, which is the first science course I've taken in college, and I cannot seem to understand the Exercise questions. For example, "You're in a car traveling at some specified speed limit. You see a car moving at the same speed coming toward you. How fast is the car...
  15. H

    Conceptual Physics Question on a Hanging Spring

    -The spring is stretched down and released with an initial velocity (v0) in the upward direction. The maximum velocity it reaches is v1. -The spring is stretched down and released with an initial velocity (v0) in the downward direction. The maximum velocity it reaches is v2. Rank the...
  16. J

    Conceptual physics question on tension

    Homework Statement The hand in the figure is pushing on the back of block A. Blocks A and B, with mass B > mass A, are connected by a massless string and slide on a frictionless surface. Is the force of the string on B larger than, smaller than, or equal to the force of the hand on A...
  17. D

    How can I improve my understanding of conceptual physics for E&M?

    Just took my first E&M physics 2 test tonight, it was almost all conceptual. I feel like such a fool because it seemed basic yet most of the questions I felt uncomfortable with. My last physics class was more of the equation hunt type, working in symbols, see how things relate mathematically...
  18. G

    Conceptual Physics question

    is it possible for a rocket to attain a speed greater than the velocity with which exhuast gases leave it? explain. I am not sure about this, because relative to the gas, I think yes, but I am not sure if it is also greater relative to the ground. This question is from momentum/impulse unit...
  19. D

    Conceptual Physics: Solving Problems in Math & Science

    Hello friends! I have just started a conceptual physics class and have not taken math or science in 6 yrs! Therefore, even some of the most fundamental physics questions are troubling me. I am not looking for answers, just logical steps to proceed with each problem. Below I will post some...
  20. E

    Need Help with Conceptual Physics Questions?

    Hi there, I've found some conceptual physics which i am confused about. Can anyone help me out? 1) Let's say if a particle is moving along an expanding spiral in a manner that the particle's normal acceleration[B] remains constant. How will the linear and angular velocities change in the...
  21. S

    Q's regarding Conceptual Physics

    I read some books trying to understand the concepts of physics and here are the parts I got stuck at, if you could help me out, I would move on :) 1. Why can't momentum and position not be determined at the same time?(Heisenberg Uncertainity Principle) 2. How is 1 electron shot at a time...
  22. E

    Please help me, anyone Conceptual physics

    Hi there, I've just joined the university for the 2nd week now. My lecturer has gave this homework which i have no idea to solve at all... It is not calculation but conceptual problems. Can anyone please guide me or help me with it? I'll truly appreciate and thanking you so much! Please help T_T
  23. D

    Circular Motion Conceptual Physics - Space Station

    Homework Statement Suppose you are standing within the rim of a circular space station, in outer space. The rim revolves around the center of the space station at 290 m/s. If the radius of the station is 8784 meters, what will you weigh? (Hint: Find v^2/r and compare it to g.)Homework Equations...
  24. E

    Physics Q&A: Impulse, Momentum, Fission & Dog Catch

    Anybody in here taking Physics class right now or in the past? Can you help me out...i have 4 more questions: 1) How much impulse stops a 50-kg carton sliding at 4 m/s when it meets a rough surface? Conservation of momentum: mv(befor) = mv(after) 2) If a Mack truck and Ford Escort have a...
  25. N

    Need Conceptual Physics Help in preparation for test

    Please answer as many as possible! Thanks! 1. If the kinetic energy of a particle is zero, what is its linear momentum? 2. If the speed of a particle is doubled, by what factor is its momentum changed? By what factor is its kinetic energy changed? 3. If two particles have equal kinetic...
  26. M

    Conceptual Physics: Frequency

    You let an empty suitcase swing to and fro at its natural frequency. If the case were filled with books, would the natural frequency be lower, greater, or the same as before? I thought that the frequency would be greater because there is more weight to push the suitcase back and forth. Is...
  27. S

    Need help on some conceptual physics problems

    Need help in understanding the physics behind these physical moments. Can someone please help me how in terms of physics the following things happen? 1) Why does a rocket go up? (what I think is that force emmitted from the flames released from the rocket creates a force that heats the...
  28. K

    Good Books/Websites for Conceptual Physics

    Are there any good books or website for conceptual physics? I don't seem to have any problem cranking out problems & for the most part I understand fundamental calculus based physics, but then a few conceptual questions will throw me off here & there... so yeah, are there any good supplements...
  29. P

    Solving Physics Problems with "Conceptual Physics" 10th Ed.

    INTRODUCTION: This is a problem from my Introduction to Physical Science class using "Conceptual Physics" 10th Ed.by Paul G. Hewitt EXACT PROBLEM: "A 500 kg load is suspended from the end of the horizontal boom, as depicted in the diagram. The angle between the boom and the cable...
  30. B

    What are the average speeds and velocities of two hikers taking different paths?

    I had to miss class today because of a meeting I had with college counselors... please help Hiker (2) is 1000 meters east of hiker (1) when they leave their base camps (@ the same time). Hiker (1) takes the following path: 200 m N, 300 m 30 degrees N of E, 400 m E, 600 m 40 degrees S of W...
  31. G

    Conceptual Physics: Understanding Velocity of Rain Drops Hitting Car Window

    Ok, I'm in a calc based physics course. I'm thinking i should have taken conceptual physics first... we did a problem with the velocity of rain drops hitting a car window. The math i could do ok, but i didn't even semi understand the problem. In my mind the rain was going wicked wicked slow...
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