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Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2024)
Articles

Exploring the basic concepts of Calculus through a case study on motion in gravitational space

Published:
2024-12-20
DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.5485/TMCS.2024.14168
Authors
Miklós Tekeli,
János Karsai,
Katalin Kopasz
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Keywords
teaching calculus kinematics dynamics physics interdisciplinarity RME visualization dynamic illustration experimental approach GeoGebra
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Copyright (c) 2024 Miklós Tekeli, János Karsai, Katalin Kopasz

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How To Cite
Selected Style: APA
Tekeli, M., Karsai, J., & Kopasz, K. (2024). Exploring the basic concepts of Calculus through a case study on motion in gravitational space. Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science, 22(2), 111-132. https://doi.org/10.5485/TMCS.2024.14168
Abstract

In universities, the Calculus course presents significant challenges year after year. In this article, we will demonstrate how to use methods of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) to introduce the concepts of limits, differentiation, and integration based on high school kinematics and dynamics knowledge. All mathematical concepts are coherently built upon experiences, experiments, and fundamental dynamics knowledge related to motion in a gravitational field. With the help of worksheets created using GeoGebra or Microsoft Excel, students can conduct digital experiments and later independently visualize and relate abstract concepts to practical applications, thereby facilitating their understanding.

Subject Classification: 97D40, 97I40, 97M50

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