Learning physics the enjoyable way

JAKARTA (JP): Physics can be fun, if you start by learning the simple basic concepts found in everyday life instead of merely cramming tricky formulae and complicated numbers.

At least that is what Yohanes Surya, President of the Asia Physics Olympiad claims.

Speaking at the Dunia Fantasi Science Festival 2001 at the Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World) amusement park in Ancol, North Jakarta, Yohanes urged teachers to use more innovative and novel approaches in making physics more appealing to their students.

"The most common mistake made by physics teachers is that they always make students memorize the formulae first, instead of introducing the basic concepts of physics," Yohanes said.

He admitted that physics formulae can be daunting to students, but once they are made aware of how useful and widely used physics concepts are, students will be more interested in studying the subject further.

Teachers' creativity in presenting the subject plays a major part in sparking the interest of students, he added.

Fancy laboratory gadgets are not a mandatory requirement in presenting physics; teachers can use inexpensive teaching aids to instill basic physics concepts.

"For example, if a table tennis ball is placed on the nozzle of an activated hairdryer, it won't fall off ... This makes for an interesting demonstration (on the laws of physics)," Yohanes pointed out.

"Teachers can then explain the physics concept and formula behind it," Yohanes told The Jakarta Post.

Yohanes, who also president of the Indonesian Physics Development Institution (LPFI), said the institution continues to encourage teachers to adopt such approaches in their teaching.

Another common alternative is to encourage students to participate in scientific events, such as the science festival currently being held at Dunia Fantasi.

"Amusement parks such as Dunia Fantasi are like giant physics laboratories, there are physics concepts being utilized all around us," Yohanes said.

The science festival at Dunia Fantasi will continue until Aug. 25.

Commenting on the aptitude level of Indonesian students in the physics field, Yohanes said he was proud of many of the young aspiring physicists.

He claimed that Indonesian students are not behind in the field compared to their Asian counterparts. However, he acknowledged that schools here were often limited in the number of facilities and qualified educators available.

Despite these obstacles, Indonesian participants in regional and international physics olympiad have continued to excel.

"In the World Physics Olympiad in 1999, Made Agus Wirawan from Bali won the gold medal," he said.(06)