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Middle School Physics Department: The Journey to Break the Limit

October 20, 2021

On 19th October 2021, the Physics Demo class ushered in the "Wall Breaking Tour of Kinematics", covering the evolution of kinematics from the early days of Aristotle to that of post-Renaissance Isaac Newton.

Mr. Feng asked the students to discuss Aristotle's 2,000 year-old-question, "Does motion require force?", in an attempt to replicate the explorative and intellectual spirit of the ancients. Students were initially split on the question with half in support and half harboring doubts. By questioning what is known, we try to encourage students to conduct empirical research and find their answers. Science is not truth in and of itself, but rather a work-in-progress that requires constant testing and debate. Mr. Feng then explained how the boldly imaginative Galileo disproved the widely recognized Aristotelian theory, which had been prevalent for more than a thousand years. He then went on to talk about how Newton refined and developed the process of kinematics based on Galileo's original theory. Students found the theoretical introduction for each scientific era exciting and informative as it not only helped them better understand many real-world use cases but also demonstrated the potential of kinematics to change the world now and into the future.

By encouraging students to not only use but also question established scientific knowledge, we hope to foster a culture endowed with a healthy dose of skepticism - always boldly and bravely committed to the pursuit of truth.

(Written by Linqiong Qiu Pictures by Physics Teachers Edited by Huang Shiyuan, Brie Polette)