Ethnophysics concepts analysis: Traditional vs. modern game in lato-lato and Newton’s pendulum

Abstract

The vast cultural legacy of Indonesia provides valuable materials for educational applications. An exemplary instance is the conventional game of lato-lato, which encompasses fundamental physics principles, such as momentum. Lato-lato, similar to Newton’s pendulum, demonstrates the concepts of momentum, the conservation of energy, and the coefficient of restitution by showcasing ball collisions. Although the devices have distinct features, they exhibit the principles of momentum and energy conservation, as well as the properties of elastic collisions. The principle of energy conservation in these systems emphasizes the transformation of potential energy into kinetic energy, with the efficiency affected by the restitution coefficient. Furthermore, the principle of conservation of momentum guarantees that the overall momentum remains constant without any external influences. Incorporating lato-lato into physics teaching offers a novel and captivating method to enhance students’ understanding of these essential physics principles.