Perceptual Constraints on Understanding Physical Dynamics
Abstract
When making dynamical judgements, people can make effective use of o nly one salient dimension of information present in the event. People do not make dynamical judgements by deriving multidimensional quantities. Thus, the adequacy of dynamical judgements depends on the degree of dimensionality that is both 1) inherent in the physics of the event, and 2) presumed to be present by the observer. Support for this proposal was found in studies of people's dynamical understandings of 1) wheels, 2) volume displacements (Archimedes Principle), 3) the surface orientation of liquids,and 4) collisions. Additional support was found in a review of the 'Intuitive Physics' literature. Finally, studies of apparent motion indicate that the basic representation of object motions is not dynamical. Keywords: Motion perception; Naive physics; Cognition; Dynamics; Intuitive physics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA207129
Entities
People
- David L. Gilden
- Dennis R. Proffitt
Organizations
- University of Virginia