Propagation of sound waves is one of the fundamental concepts in physics. Some of the properties of sound propagation such as attenuation of sound intensity with increasing distance are familiar to everybody from the experiences of daily life. However, the frequency dependence of sound propagation and the effect of acoustics in confined…

We use analogies to provide introductory laboratory students intuition into measurement uncertainties. Using a battery-resistor circuit we discuss uncertainty concepts and derive expressions for uncertainty of the mean and sums of uncertainties. Finally, we draw attention to the fact that the interpretation of standard deviation as uncertainty…

How do secondary school science teachers justify the model of a particulate nature of matter, and how do the arguments they use relate to historical arguments? To find out, we individually interviewed 11 in-service secondary school science teachers (certified to teach chemistry and/or physics in secondary school, and with 2 to 30 years of teaching…

According to variation theory, it is essential to enable students to focus on the object of learning and discern its critical features, but the features that "it is possible" to discern often depend on the equipment used. Thus, in labs, the experimental technologies used may shape students' experience of focal phenomena, in a…

This study investigated students' modeling progress and strategies in a problem-solving simulation game through content analysis, and through supervised and unsupervised lag sequential analysis (LSA). Multiple data sources, including self-report models and activity logs, were collected from 25 senior high school students. The results of the…

This article is the second of a two-part series that explores science teachers' and their pupils' experiences of using different pedagogical approaches based on understandings of how brains learn. Part 1 (Torrance Jenkins, 2017) focused on the two approaches rooted in cognitive psychology: Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and Cognitive Acceleration…

Studies show that teachers and students use humour when communicating with each other in a science education context. This study investigates the use of humour during a collaborative inquiry laboratory task on an undergraduate chemistry course and an undergraduate physics course. Seven groups of students working on a collaborative inquiry task…

The goal of this project is to analyze the views of pre-service physics teachers on STEM education and STEM activities. For this purpose, qualitative approach and semi structured interview forms were used as data collection tools. The interview forms were analyzed using content analysis technique. The participants of the study are eight students…

Cosmic expansion is an important concept in astronomy. For ease of understanding, astronomers generally draw an analogy between cosmic expansion and the expansion of a spherical surface in 3D space. This study theoretically and experimentally investigates the laws governing the motion of particles on the surface of a balloon during expansion.…

The study of vibration in uniform beams provides physics teachers with a platform by which a broad range of physics vibration-related topics can be explored without expensive and specialized equipment. This paper presents two laboratory exercises related to lateral beam vibrations. These exercises use beam theory coupled with free sound-analysis…

I am inspired to write this article after coming across some publications in "The Physics Teacher" that all hit on topics of personal interest and experience. Similarly to Christensen my goal in writing this is to encourage other physics educators to take advantage of modern technology in delivering content to students and to feel…

This mixed-method study represents a broad evaluation of the physics views of Mississippi physics students and physicists, along with an analysis of graduate school data, in a search for answers which might improve physics education in Mississippi. Descriptive statistics were calculated using data from eight graduate degree programs (from Fall…

Due to benefits for teaching and learning, an increasing number of studies have focused on classroom dialogue and how to make it productive. Coding, in which the transcribed conversation is allocated to a set of features, is commonly employed to deal with the textual data arising from this dialogue. This is generally done manually and cannot…

Teachers' diagnostic competence is fundamental for supporting students' individual learning processes and must be fostered in teacher education. Following a design-based research approach, a learning environment is developed focusing on preservice physics teachers' diagnostic competence in diagnosing students' conceptions. A core element of the…

Research has been conducted to develop a physics learning media in the form of an Android-based pocket book. We designed a Harmonic Oscillation Pocket Book and tested its feasibility and effectiveness in improving the cognitive learning outcomes of students. This study used the research and development method adapted from the ADDIE model. The…