Qualitative Behavior Hypothesis from Device Diagrams

This paper introduces a “qualitative” problem solving task that humans arc adept at, but one which has not received much attention within the qualitative physics community. This is the task of predicting the operation of a simple mechanical device, itt tertits of spatial behaviors of its components, front a labeled schematic ciiagranm of the device showing the spatial cotmfigttration of its component.s and a gtven initial condition. Using the example of a pressure gauge we defttie this task, present a. cognitive strategy for solving such problems, anti describe the architecture of a corresponding computer model