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Parks, Beth; Benze, Hans – Physics Teacher, 2022
Student misconceptions of the double-slit experiment (Fig. 1) are abundant. The most common ones that we observe include: (1) belief that constructive interference requires both pathlengths to be integer multiples of the wavelength ("L[subscript 1] = n[subscript 1][lambda]" and "L[subscript 2] = n[subscript 2][lambda]") rather…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Physics, Science Experiments
Ferstl, Andrew; Duden, Emily R. – Physics Teacher, 2022
The conical pendulum is a classic introductory physics problem for teaching circular motion--a topic about which students frequently carry alternative conceptions. As teachers provide lessons to untangle these conceptions, it is good to allow students to practice their new knowledge in varied settings. This is one possible experiment that builds…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Motion, Mechanics (Physics), Scientific Concepts
Simionato, Silvia – Physics Teacher, 2021
The concept of redshift is very often used in teaching physics and astronomy, as well as in science public outreach. Redshift is an interesting topic, used to describe many physical processes such as the Doppler effect or the expansion of the universe. Nevertheless, there are unfortunately also misconceptions about redshift. When facing the…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Misconceptions
Kim, Sungki; Paik, Seoung-Hey – Physics Teacher, 2021
The floating and sinking phenomenon related to buoyant force can readily be observed in everyday life and easily demonstrated to young students. However, many students believe that the buoyant force is determined by the object's attributes, such as the shape (e.g., ship) or material (e.g., wood). As a result, students find it challenging to…
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation
Olmstead, Matt – Physics Teacher, 2019
Throughout students' careers in physics, there are some topics that they learn multiple times and in multiple ways, and other topics that are briefly, if at all, discussed. I wanted to have the students think about all of the different physics topics they had learned in, most likely, a new way. Games have been used as a way to learn new physics…
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Teaching Methods
Alonzo, Alicia C.; von Aufschnaiter, Claudia – Physics Teacher, 2018
Addressing student conceptions with instruction has been a major issue in physics education for decades. However, too often the focus is on treating student ideas as "misconceptions" rather than as potentially productive ideas with varying degrees of sophistication. This paper introduces "learning progressions" as models that…
Descriptors: Thinking Skills, Misconceptions, Physics, Science Instruction
Razpet, Nada; Kranjc, Tomaž – Physics Teacher, 2017
When doing experimental work of image formation by mirrors and (thin) lenses, it turns out again and again that students often have partially incorrect preconceptions about how the light emerging from an object passes through a lens and how the image is formed on a screen or directly in the eye. To check students' prior knowledge and help get a…
Descriptors: Light, Optics, Geometric Concepts, Misconceptions
Zavrel, Erik – Physics Teacher, 2016
"MythBusters," the long-running though recently discontinued Discovery Channel science entertainment television program, has proven itself to be far more than just a highly rated show. While its focus is on entertainment, the show employs an array of pedagogical techniques to communicate scientific concepts to its audience. These…
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Science Instruction, Television
de Obaldia, Elida; Miller, Norma; Wittel, Fred; Jaimison, George; Wallis, Kendra – Physics Teacher, 2016
Some misconceptions about physics are hard to change. For example, students continue to believe that heavier objects fall faster than light ones, even after a year of physics instruction. Physics misconceptions are persistent. Light objects do fall more slowly if their size-to-weight ratio is sufficient for drag to be appreciable. Motion through a…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Physics
Shakur, Asif – Physics Teacher, 2014
Much has been written and debated about the Coriolis force. Unfortunately, this has done little to demystify the paradoxes surrounding this fictitious force invoked by an observer in a rotating frame of reference. It is the purpose of this article to make another valiant attempt to slay the dragon of the Coriolis force! This will be done without…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Concept Formation
Radovanovic, Jelena; Slisko, Josip – Physics Teacher, 2012
Floating and sinking might be common phenomena, encountered on a daily basis, but still represent conceptually complex scientific topics. Research has shown that most students have certain experiences and their own "theories" that explain why objects sink or float. Unfortunately, many of these "theories" are either misconceptions or are valid only…
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Physics, Science Instruction
Gonzalez-spada, Wilson J.; Birriel, Jennifer; Birriel, Ignacio – Physics Teacher, 2010
Studies on cognitive aspects of science education, especially how students achieve conceptual change, have been a focus of interest for many years. Researchers of student learning and conceptual change have developed several easily applicable teaching strategies. One of these strategies is known as "discrepant events". Discrepant events are very…
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Thinking Skills, Teaching Methods

Gang, Su – Physics Teacher, 1993
Offers a strategy for eliminating or at least diminishing students' preconceptions and misconceptions using two inseparable components: a pretest to identify the students' preconceptions and a technique of teaching by comparison between right and wrong responses to remove the preconceptions. (MVL)
Descriptors: Concept Formation, Misconceptions, Physics, Science Education

Chandler, David – Physics Teacher, 1991
The term "microgravity" has begun to appear in science texts as a substitute for "weightlessness." Presents examples to clarify three common misconceptions about gravity and weightlessness. Further examines these and other examples with respect to microgravity to make distinctions between the terms and avoid additional…
Descriptors: Concept Formation, Gravity (Physics), High Schools, Misconceptions

Hammer, David – Physics Teacher, 1989
Considers what college students think reasoning about physics involves. Discusses whether it is possible to identify students' general conceptions of physics and the effects of a course on students' concepts. Data indicated that students' understandings had an effect on problem solving, qualitative problems, and misconceptions. (YP)
Descriptors: Beliefs, College Science, Concept Formation, Higher Education
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