| Title: | Students' Energy Models Mechanics Though Electromagnetism* |
| Meeting: | 127th AAPT National Meeting: Madison, WI |
| Location: | Hall of Ideas J |
| Date: | Wednesday, Aug. 6 |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m. |
| Author: |
Salomon Itza-Ortiz, Kansas
State Univ. 785-532-1824, sitza@phys.ksu.edu |
| Co-Author(s): | Benjamin Lawrence, N. Sanjay Rebello, Dean A. Zollman |
| Abstract: | Energy is a central concept in science. We have extended our previous research1 of students' models of energy from mechanics contexts to electromagnetism contexts. We conducted interviews and administered a written survey, which was designed based on students' responses in the interview. Our research subjects were students enrolled in a two-semester, calculus-based physics course. We found that students seemed to use a model of energy with four different components: energy due to position, motion, substance and conservation. We will present the research results from our interviews and surveys. |
| Footnotes: |
*Supported in part by NSF
grant #REC-008788.
1. Salomon F. Itza-Ortiz, Benjamin Lawrence, Sanjay Rebello and Dean Zollman, "Mental Models in Energy, Mechanics Contexts," 126th AAPT National Meeting (Jan. 2003). |