Intuitive physics in action and judgment: The development of knowledge about projectile motion.

Abstract

This article contrasts intuitive knowledge about projectile motion expressed in action with knowledge expressed in explicit judgments. In the action condition of Experiment 1 children and adults threw a ball horizontally from different heights to hit targets on the floor; in the judgment condition the same subjects rated the respective launch speeds required. All age groups appropriately varied the launch speed with respect to both height of release and target distance in the action condition. In the judgment condition, however, kindergartners failed to integrate the relevant dimensions and even fourth graders and adults showed misconceptions of the speed-height relation. Experiment 2 established that the speed gradations in the action condition did not critically depend on visual flight feedback or the availability of outcome information