Intuitive physics in action: Perceptual-motor knowledge about projectile motion in 5-7-year-old children

Author(s): Loskill, J., Schwarz, S.

Journal/Book: Z Psychol. 1996; 204: Im Weiher 10, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany. Johann Ambrosius Barth Verlag. 339-366.

Abstract: In previous experiments it was shown that kindergartners exhibit sophisticated knowledge about projectile motion when asked to throw a ball at a target, but not when asked for symbolic judgments. A series of experiments was conducted to explore the accessibility of this intuitive knowledge in five- to seven-year-old children. For this purpose, the original task - throwing a bail horizontally to hit a target on the floor - was modified with respect to both the general kind of movement performed (Experiment 1-2: slinging) and the effector system used (Experiment 3-4: kicking). Using a sling to project a sphere, kindergartners only considered tie distance of the target but ignored the release height. In the kicking context, by contrast, many children graded the launch speeds in good agreement with the physical law. Taken together, the present findings indicate that the implicit knowledge about projectile motion young children use when throwing at a target is perceptual-motor in nature. They further suggest that the development of this knowledge comprises the enlargement of initially highly specific conditions of access.

Note: Article Krist H, Univ Frankfurt, Inst Psychol, Georg Voigt Str 8, D-60054 Frankfurt, GERMANY

Keyword(s): intuitive physics; projectile motion; throwing at targets; perceptual-motor knowledge; INFORMATION-INTEGRATION; CONTINUITY

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