Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning over Physics Textbook Diagrams
Maria D. Chang, Jon Wetzel, Kenneth D. Forbus · 2011
Diagrams are frequently used in problem solving to convey spatial and conceptual information. They can guide problem solving in domains that require both qualitative and quantitative reasoning about causal systems. One such domain is physics, which requires qualitative and quantitative reasoning for conceptual mastery. However, almost no physics problem solving systems use diagrams or hand drawn sketches as input. We present a system that uses qualitative process theory and qualitative mechanics to solve diagrammatic ranking exercises from a physics textbook. The combination of quantitative and qualitative reasoning over sketches enables the software to understand physical situations in human-like ways that are similar to humans. The application of these reasoning techniques to sketched physical systems may be useful for educational software in physics and engineering design.