Newtonian Mechanics: Who Needs It?
On two glorious summer days back in July 08 I was invited to attend the "Symposium on Mechanics Education" in Cambridge University. Assembled were 70 or so teachers, University Engineering and Science tutors, Industrialist, the Further Maths Network guys and a few publishers, myself included.
The issue for discussion was:
"Newtonian mechanics plays a vital role in preparing students at 16-19 for physics, engineering and applied mathematics at university but each year more students arrive with little or no experience of it. There has been a significant decline in the take-up of mechanics following curriculum changes in 2004 and students in 30-40% of schools and colleges now have minimal access to mechanics modules (at most one). UK engineering, science and industry prize highly the skills of mathematical modelling and problem solving grounded in Newton’s mechanics. Urgent action is needed to increase access to and uptake of Newton’s mechanics at ages 16-19."
Despite the scorching weather, beautiful surroundings and excellent food we managed to spend a respectable few hours discussing how to revitalise mechanics education. It wasn't all doom and gloom either, the success of the Further Maths Network was great to hear about.
One of the snippets that sticks in my mind was Sir Peter Williams triumphing how applied maths used to be the backbone of the British Engineering sector but now it is in the City of London where Newtonian Mechanics is being used to create great wealth by modelling sophisticated financial products. It's a pity they didn't understand that nothing can defy gravity!