Investigation of trochoidal paths in physics lessons

Abstract Using the example of trochoids it is shown how Bruner’s cognitive-psychological model of modes of representations is used to introduce the kinematics and its mathematical description of a complex motion in the introductory phase of physics studies. Enactive (experimental), iconic (simulation) and symbolic (equation) representations of the rolling motion of a wheel are combined to address the different types of learning to gradually introduce the formal description of trochoids.