The perception of gravity in a physically modificated space: an analysis based on Gaston Bachelard

Author(s)

Pedro Donizete Colombo Júnior

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física (IF/SBI)
• Defense date: 2010-04-05

Examining board members

Cibelle Celestino Silva; Antonio Aprigio da Silva Curvelo; Martha Marandino

• Advisor: Cibelle Celestino Silva

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to understand how a modified physical space can influence the perception and explanations about gravity held by high school students. This research was conducted in the \"Mad House\" of Centre of Scientific and Cultural Dissemination of the University of Sao Paulo. This is a house with walls and floor tilted by an angle of 15 degrees in relation to the external framework. When the visitor enters the house, she/he experiences alterations in the perception of some daily phenomena related to the force of gravity. The adopted theoretical framework were the notions of epistemological obstacles and profile proposed by Gaston Bachelard. The research methodology relied on quantitative and qualitative analysis by means of observations, questionnaires, video and audio recordings and semi-structured interviews. The data analysis points to the presence of some epistemological obstacles proposed by the bachalerdian epistemology, such as; first experience, animism, naive conceptions and verbal obstacle; it also demonstrated some of student\'s difficulties in understanding gravity concept and its vector character. The influence of the three learning contexts (personal, social cultural, physical) also became clear during the activities. In different moments, the activities performed inside the \"Mad House\" illustrated in larger or smaller scales the interpolation of the three contexts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/06055-0 - Physics teaching at science centers: student notions about gravitational force at Casa Maluca of CDCC-USP
• Grantee: Pedro Donizete Colombo Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master