ERIC Number: EJ1051486
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1309-7202
EISSN: N/A
Free Fall Misconceptions: Results of a Graph Based Pre-Test of Sophomore Civil Engineering Students
Montecinos, Alicia M.
European Journal of Physics Education, v5 n3 p1-7 2014
A partially unusual behaviour was found among 14 sophomore students of civil engineering who took a pre test for a free fall laboratory session, in the context of a general mechanics course. An analysis contemplating mathematics models and physics models consistency was made. In all cases, the students presented evidence favoring a correct free fall acceleration model, whilst their position component versus time, and velocity component versus time graphs revealed complex misconceptions both on the physical phenomenon and it's implicit mathematics consistency. The last suggests an inability to make satisfactory connections through definitions between graphed variables. In other words, evidence strongly suggests that students are perfectly able to "memorize" the free fall acceleration model, whilst not understanding it's significance at any level. This small study originated the develope and validation of a tutorial on free fall graphs for position, velocity and acceleration models, as part of a following cross-universities major project.
Descriptors: Misconceptions, Civil Engineering, Graphs, Pretesting, Mechanics (Physics), Models, Logical Thinking, Scientific Concepts, Scientific Methodology, Scientific Literacy, Scientific Principles, Scientific Attitudes, Motion, Kinetics, Cognitive Ability, Knowledge Level, Familiarity, College Students, Foreign Countries
Erciyes University. Melikgazi, Kayseri, 38039 Turkey. Tel: +90-352-207-6666; Web site: http://ejpe.erciyes.edu.tr/index.php/EJPE
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Chile
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A