A Comparative Study Of The Infiltration Of Calculus Ideas In High School Physics Textbooks In China And The United States

Textbooks play a crucial role in curriculum reform and are essential for improving the quality of education and teaching.Physics and mathematics,as interrelated and interdependent disciplines,hold significant importance in practical teaching.This research is based on the theories of system theory,system correlation theory,and mathematical matching theory,employing a holistic-to-part-to-holistic research approach.Firstly,a comprehensive review of calculus-related knowledge in high school physics is conducted,encompassing functions,differentiation,integration,and definite integrals.Secondly,a comparative analysis of the breadth and depth of calculus concepts in high school physics textbooks from China(People’s Education Press)and the United States("Physics:Principles and Problems")is conducted.Lastly,the teaching progressions of high school physics and mathematics courses in China and the United States are matched holistically.By comparing the breadth and depth of calculus concepts between the Chinese and American high school physics textbooks,it is found that both textbooks cover calculus concepts almost equally,while the Chinese textbook demonstrates a more even distribution of calculus depth.Moreover,through the matching of teaching progressions between high school physics and mathematics courses in China and the United States,it is observed that the American mathematics curriculum places greater emphasis on learning calculus,which is more conducive to the integration of calculus concepts into physics textbooks and problem-solving.By conducting a comparative study of textbooks,valuable insights can be gained from excellent domestic and international textbook writing experiences,enabling the formulation of suggestions for textbook writing and teaching practices.In the process of permeating calculus concepts,appropriate textbook writing strategies should be adopted based on different stages.Teachers should consciously and purposefully incorporate calculus concepts into their teaching,and consider incorporating the history of calculus development.The research findings of this study provide beneficial references and guidance for the development of high school physics textbooks and teaching practices in China,and contribute to the exchange and mutual learning of education and culture between China and foreign countries.