ERIC Number: EJ860240
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
Energy and the Confused Student IV: A Global Approach to Energy
Jewett, John W., Jr.
Physics Teacher, v46 n4 p210-217 Apr 2008
Energy is a critical concept in physics problem-solving, but is often a major source of confusion for students if the presentation is not carefully crafted by the instructor or the textbook. In the first three articles in this series we discussed several issues related to the teaching of energy concepts. We have saved a major single issue for this article: the presentation of energy by means of a global approach. Energy, energy transfers, and energy transformations are at the heart of "every" process that occurs in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and geology. Consequently, it is useful and highly instructive to discuss this global nature of energy from the very beginning, when energy is first introduced in mechanics. [For Part III, see EJ860232.]
Descriptors: Holistic Approach, Mechanics (Physics), Energy, Science Instruction, Problem Solving, Misconceptions, Teaching Methods, Textbooks, Scientific Concepts, Scientific Principles
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A