GRADE 11

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
MODULE 2: SECOND QUARTER (WEEK 2)
UNIVERSAL LAWS OF PHYSICS:
ARISTOTLE AND GALILEO

Learning Competencies (Essential Competencies)

This module comprises of the following most essential competencies:
1. Compare and contrast the Aristotelian and Galilean conceptions of vertical motion,
horizontal motion, and projectile motion (S11/12PS-IVc-46).
2. Explain how Galileo inferred that objects in vacuum fall with uniform acceleration, and
that force is not necessary to sustain horizontal motion (S11/12PS-IVc-47).
3. Explain the subtle distinction between Newton’s 1st Law of Motion (or Law of Inertia)
and Galileo’s assertion that force is not necessary to sustain horizontal motion
(S11/12PS-IVd-51).

Day 1 – ARISTOTELIAN VERSUS GALILEAN MOTION CONCEPTIONS

Objectives: After finishing the day 1 module, the learners should be able to
compare and contrast the Aristotelian and Galilean conceptions of vertical motion,
horizontal motion, and projectile motion.

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Have you ever been on a
slow-moving train? You know that you
may not be able to tell the train is
moving unless you look at the window.
A nearby building is a good reference
point, and a glance at it will tell you if
you and the train are moving. Whether
an object is moving or not depends on
your point of view. However, you know
that an object is in motion if it changes
in position relative to its reference
point.
originaltravels.com

Galileo and Aristotle both made important discoveries in defining motion. Comparing and
contrasting their woks are necessary. It is interesting to note that Aristotle following the
Greek tradition and Galileo in the Enlightenment era both look for the connection between
reason and observation.

Aristotle categorized motion as either natural or violent motion. In a natural motion, the
object will move and will return to its natural state based on the object's material or
composition. Examples of natural motion include: Smoke naturally rises, a book lying at rest
on a table naturally remains at rest, and if you let go of the book, it naturally falls toward the
Earth. In contrast, an object moving in a violent motion requires an external force (push or
pull) for the object to move, noting that it is an imposed motion. It is externally caused and is
imparted to objects which move not by themselves, not by their nature, but because of
impressed forces of push and pull.

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Aristotle also had his view on the projectile motion of an object. He believed that an object
thrown at a certain angle is given an impetus—a force or energy that permits an object to
move. It will continue to move in such state until the object’s impetus is lost, and the object
returns to its natural state, causing it to stop and fall to the ground.

However, as the science of motion became somewhat more quantitative in the 16th century,
some people began to do researches into it. Galileo Galilei was one of them. Galileo was
not content with qualitative observations but using his modern scientific method, Galileo
adopted the quantitative observation with mathematical precision. In this respect, Galileo
was considered as the Father of Experimental Science. The work of Galileo is considered to
be a significant break from that of Aristotle.

Galileo disproved Aristotle’s claims and believed that the motion of objects is not simply due
to the composition of objects. He mentioned that motion can be described by mathematics
and the changes in some physical variables such as time and distance. Using his actual and
thorough experiments, he was able to prove that: 1) an object in uniform motion will
travel a distance that is proportional to the time it will take to travel; 2) uniformly
accelerating object will travel at a speed proportional to some factor of time; 3) an
object in motion, if unimpeded, will continue to be in motion; an external force is not
necessary to maintain the motion.

Let’s Apply
Using a Venn diagram, identify the similarities and differences of Aristotle and
Galileo Galilei’s viewpoints on motion.

ARISTOTLE GALILEO

Let’s Analyze
You are probably sitting while you are reading this. Other than your eyes
blinking and your chest moving up and down, can you say that you are moving? Explain
your answers using the viewpoints of Aristotle and Galileo Galilei.

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 Day 2 – GALILEO'S VIEW OF MOTION
Objectives: After finishing the day 2 module, the learners should be able to
expound the ideas of Galileo about vertical, horizontal and projectile motion, as well as
explain Galileo’s uniform acceleration of objects in a vacuum.

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Remember whenever your last class is dismissed and you hurry out of class to
enjoy the bright afternoon?

A light breeze is blowing, a few clouds

are lazily drifting across the sky, and
colorful leaves float down from the
trees. Two birds fly playfully over your
head. You spend a few minutes with
some friends who are kicking a ball
around. Then, you head home. Does
anything strike you about this afternoon
scene? It is filled with all kinds of
motion. ocregister.com

Galileo Galilei had always been fascinated on how objects move. In fact, he was
performing experiments at the very beginning of his investigations of motion and he studied
his experimental results seriously. Over the next two decades, he changed his ideas and
refined his experiments. Moreover, Galileo was not content with qualitative observations but
using the modern scientific method, Galileo adopted the quantitative observations with
mathematical precision.

GALILEO'S CONCEPTIONS OF MOTION

Horizontal motion - An object in motion, if unimpeded, will continue to be in motion, and
an external force is not necessary to maintain the motion. If the Earth’s surface is very flat
and extended infinitely, objects that are pushed will not be impeded. Thus, the objects will
continue to move. This kind of motion, however, is not evident in nature. For example, if a
ball is pushed on an infinitely flat plane, the ball will continue to roll if unimpeded.

Vertical motion - In the absence of a resistance, objects would fall not depending on their
weight, but in the time of fall. Also, if the object encountered a resistive force from a fluid
equal or greater than its weight, it will slow down and reaches a uniform motion until it
reaches the bottom and stops. For example, without any resistance, a 1-kg object will be as
fast as a 10-kg object when falling because they fall with the same amount of time, given
that they are released from the same height. Also, a stone dropped in the ocean will sooner
or later travel at constant speed.

Projectile motion - Galileo believed that a projectile is a combination of uniform motion in

the horizontal direction and uniformly accelerated motion in the vertical direction. If it is not
impeded, it will continue to move even without an applied force. For example, when you
shoot a ball in a basketball ring, the ball does not need a force to keep it moving.

UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED VERTICAL MOTION: MOTION OF FALLING BODIES

In the period before Galileo, scientists thought that force causes speed as claimed
by Aristotle. He made two assertions about how things fall: 1) Heavier objects would strive
harder and fall faster than lighter ones, the speed being proportional to the weight; 2) the
speed of fall of a given object depends inversely on the density of the medium it is falling
through.

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Galileo then began his research, first
disproving the Aristotelian contention
that bodies of different weights fall at
different speeds. According to the
legend and this is one of the most
famous stories, that Galileo dropped
balls of different masses from the
Leaning Tower of Pisa to demonstrate
that their time of descent was
independent of their mass (excluding air
resistance), and this was contrary to
what Aristotle had thought.
quora.com

Galileo proved with his experiments that when objects are dropped simultaneously, they
will reach the ground at the same time regardless of their masses and air resistance. In
another set of experiments, he discovered that objects fall with uniform acceleration.
Galileo was fascinated by the behavior of falling objects. He knew that falling objects
increase their speed as they go down. This change in speed is acceleration. However, he
did not have any equipment to measure this change, so he used inclined planes to lessen
the acceleration of the moving bodies. He was able to investigate carefully.

On his experiment, he had observed the Time (s) Speed (m/s)

following: A ball rolling down an inclined 0 0
plane increases its speed by the same 1 3
value after every second. For example, 2 6
the speed of a rolling ball was found to 3 9
increase by 2 m/s every second. This 4 12
means that the rolling ball would have the 5 15
following speeds for every given second:
The results are as follows: 1) As the inclined plane becomes steeper, the acceleration of the
rolling ball increases; 2) The maximum acceleration of the rolling ball was reached when the
inclined plane was positioned vertically as if the ball is simply falling. These observations
lead Galileo to conclude that regardless of the mass of objects and air resistance, falling
objects would always have uniform acceleration.

Let’s Apply and Analyze

Who has a more acceptable view of falling objects, Aristotle or Galileo? Try to
test it in the following activities below. Take note that in every activity, both objects should
be dropped at the same time and at the same height.

1. Drop a book and a flat sheet of paper.

2. Drop a book and a sheet of paper crumbled to a ball.

Which object reach the ground first? Whose view is more acceptable then, and
why? Explain your answer.

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 Day 3 – NEWTON’S LAW OF INERTIA (FIRST LAW OF
MOTION) VERSUS GALILEO’S ASSERTION OF
HORIZONTAL MOTION
Objectives: After finishing the day 3 module, the learners should be able to explain the
subtle distinction between Newton’s 1st Law of Motion (or Law of Inertia) and Galileo’s
assertion that force is not necessary to sustain horizontal motion.

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

The behavior of all objects can be described by saying that objects tend to “keep on
doing what they’re doing.” Before Sir Isaac Newton came up with his laws of motion, a lot of
scientists have laid the foundation for the study of force and motion. One of those scientists
was Galileo Galilei.

Galileo Galilei was the first to explain

the concept of inertia. He observed that
when a ball rolls down an inclined
plane, its speed increases; and when it
rolls upwards, its speed decreases. He
indicated that this change in speed was
due to gravity.

Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer,

physicist, and engineer who has been called
the” Father of Modern Science, Father of pioneeringminds.com
Observational Astronomy, Father of Modern
Physics, and Father of Scientific Method.”

When the ball rolled down the inclined plane, it was pulled by gravity, so its speed
increased. The opposite happened when the ball rolled up the inclined plane. He then
asked himself what would happen to the ball if it was rolling on a horizontal plane such as
the floor. Galileo asserted that if friction was absent, the ball would continue to move with
constant velocity. It would continue its state of motion unless a push or a pull compels it to
change that state. Galileo called this tendency of materials to resist change in their state of
motion as inertia.

His assertion was the inspiration for Newton’s First Law of Motion. They both implied
that no force is needed to keep the motion of an object and the object’s inertia would keep
it from changing its state of motion. Though Galileo knew about friction but did not know
about the concept of force and used the term 'push and pull' to signify forces, it was Sir
Isaac Newton who defined the concept of force and its relation to motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion – also referred to as the Law of Inertia – states that if the
forces acting upon an object are balanced, then the body at rest remains at rest and the
body in motion continues to be in uniform motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced
force. Objects at equilibrium (the condition in which all forces are balanced) will not
accelerate. Inertia explains many common events such as if you are in a car that stops
suddenly, inertia causes you to continue moving forward.

Another example is a rocket in space. A

rocket is freewheeling through space.
Its motors are not working. However,
because there are no external forces
such as friction acting on it, it will
continue indefinitely at the same speed scitechdaily.com
and in the same condition.

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 Let’s Apply and Analyze
Directions: Tape one end of a length of thread (about 1 meter) to a table
tennis ball or any small ball. Suspend the ball in front of you and swing it in a horizontal
circle. Keep the ball about 2 or 3 cm above the floor. Let go of the thread and observe the
direction in which the ball rolls. Repeat this several times, letting go of the thread at
different points.

Explain the First Law of Motion (inertia) on this demonstration. Draw a diagram as
part of your answer.

Let’s Create
Science at Home: One important application of getting familiarized with
Newton’s First Law of Motion is to demonstrate inertia while having fun with the entire
family at home.

Goal: Your goal is to make demonstrate inertia by challenging your family members to
move the coin from the card to the cup without touching the coin or holding on to the
card. Explain what happens to the coin in terms of inertia.

Directions: Fill a paper cup with water. Cover the cup with an index card and place a
coin or paper clip in the center of the index card. Challenge your family members to move
the coin from the card to the cup without touching the coin or holding on to the card. If
they cannot think of how to do it, show them how. Hold the cup and use your finger to
flick or pull the card with a sharp sideways force. The force does not have to be very
strong, but it must be sharp. Explain what happens to the coin in terms of inertia. Make a
video presentation of your demonstration.

Role: Your job is to act as a game host.

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 Audience: You are to present your video presentation to your teacher and classmates,
and/or present the video to family member/s to score the rubrics provided.

Situation: The challenge involves sharing your knowledge to your family members while
having fun as part of a family bonding to enhance your mastery of the topic.

Product, Performance, and Purpose: Your video presentation will be judged by your
teacher and/or family member/s.

Standards and Criteria

Criteria Excellent Good Fair Poor

10 points 8 points 6 points 5 point

Content Extremely well Presented in a Most Format was

organized; thoughtful transitions difficult to
logical format manner, but at were easy to follow;
that was easy times ideas follow, but at transitions of
to follow; were unclear; times ideas ideas were
enhanced the “solid” product were unclear; abrupt
effectiveness of solid product
the project

Creativity Extremely Was clever at Fairly unique Little creative

clever and times, uniquely presentation energy used
unique presented
presentation

Day 4- Let’s Try (Evaluation)

Multiple Choice: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following agrees with Galileo’s view of motion?
A. A feather will be as fast as an iron ball if dropped in a vacuum.
B. If a 10-kg boulder is dropped to the sea, it will stop midway.
C. Planets revolve around the sun because of a Prime Mover.
D. Smoke rises because the sky is its natural place.

2. Which of the following is an example of a violent motion?

A. Water flowing in a river.
B. A dropped pen falling to the ground.
C. A ball kicked from the ground.
D. Rocks falling from a mountain.

3. According to Aristotle, which of the following elements would a rock go back to if

thrown upward?
A. Air
B. Earth
C. Water
D. Fire

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4. According to Aristotle, which of the following objects shows a projectile motion?
A. A leaf falling from a tree.
B. A coin tossed in the air.
C. The rain falling from the sky.
D. A fired cannon ball.

5. Which of the following best explains why Aristotle’s view on motion stood for many
years?
A. Aristotle’s ideas readily proven through observation.
B. Aristotle was a very influential Greek philosopher
C. People at the time were gullible to the ideas of the philosophers.
D. Aristotle supported his ideas with laboratory experimentation.

6. What material did Galileo use to study the acceleration of a falling body?
A. inclined planes
B. balls
C. horizontal planes
D. rings

7. At what position of the inclined plane did Galileo find the greatest acceleration of the
rolling ball?
A. When the plane is inclined to 90°.
B. When the plane is inclined at 60°.
C. When the plane is inclined at 45°.
D. When the plane is inclined at 30°.

8. Three objects A, B, and C with mass 5 kg, 8 kg, and 15 kg, respectively, were dropped
simultaneously. Neglecting air resistance, which object will reach the ground first?
A. The three objects will reach the ground at the same time.
B. Object C will reach the ground first.
C. Object B will reach the ground first.
D. Object A will reach the ground first.

9. A rolling stone was found to pick up a speed of 3 m/s every second. What will be its
speed after 5 s if it started with 0 m/s at 0 s?
A. 15 m/s
B. 25 m/s
C. 9 m/s
D. 3 m/s

10. In Galileo’s experiment, what force, aside from friction, affects the motion of the ball in
rolling up and down the inclined planes?
A. weight
B. friction
C. gravity
D. inertia