The small angle approximation sin[theta approximately theta] is central to all treatments of the simple pendulum as a harmonic oscillator and is typically asserted as a result that follows from calculus. Here, however, we show that the geometry of the pendulum "itself" offers a route to understanding the origin of the small angle…

To explain experiences of riders of rotating systems, such as a merry-go-round, some physics educators have employed the concept of 'centrifugal force.' However, others have suggested that the term is unnecessary in explaining experiences in rotating systems and that it encourages misconceptions surrounding circular motion dynamics. Owing to this…

Difficulties in understanding physics concepts are often experienced by students such as in the material of regular uniform motion. This study aims to describe the mental models of first-year secondary school students on regular straight-line motion. This research utilized a case study method of 167 students at the secondary level with an average…

Research on geometric transformations suggests that early learners possess intuitive understandings grounded in motion metaphors, transitioning to mappings. The processes through which students transition between these two conceptions are not fully understood. We propose that Vygotskian hybridizing (related to Vygotsky's articulation of everyday…

In science, one of the most crucial representations for constructing meaning about physical events is graphs. The first graph students encounter in science class is the constant velocity motion graph. Therefore, examining students' understanding of structuring and interpreting these graphs for the relationship between distance, time, and velocity…

This case study investigated the conceptual understanding of the Simple Pendulum topic amongst physics student-teachers using online experiments. A pre-experimental design was utilised, employing a one-group pretest-posttest approach with 20 student-teachers. The research instruments included a highspeed video activity conducted within Online…

Virtual reality (VR) can provide access to otherwise inaccessible aspects of the world and thus promote science learning. We developed a VR learning tool about the water cycle, with 11 lessons for classroom teaching at the primary level. We assessed prior knowledge before a four-week intervention and learning outcomes directly after the…

Many learners seem to struggle to grasp the concepts of forces and Newton's law of motion, possibly owing to decontextualised teaching pedagogies used in science classrooms. This study investigates Grade 11 Physical Sciences teachers' perspectives in South Africa on integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to improve learners' understanding of…