An analysis of students´conceptions about falling bodies

Abstract

In this paper I present a recurrent subject in mechanics, not ever easily comprehensible: the falling body. I intend to make a parallel between possible representations assumed by high school students about falling bodies and Aristotle s idea about the same subject. I also search for an alternative to influence on these conceptions, presenting Galileo s experiments the empirical as much as the thinking ones and the way they refute Aristotle s ideas. Practical activities were developed, using easily manipulated materials, as well as texts extracted from Galile s book, Dialogues Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World , founded on Alexander Koyre s Studies of scientific thinking history .