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American Journal of Physics
written by Paula V. Engelhardt and Robert J. Beichner
Both high school and university students' reasoning regarding direct current resistive electric circuits often differ from the accepted explanations. At present, there are no standard diagnostic tests on electric circuits. Two versions of a diagnostic instrument were developed, each consisting of 29 questions. The information provided by this test can provide instructors with a way of evaluating the progress and conceptual difficulties of their students. The analysis indicates that students, especially females, tend to hold multiple misconceptions, even after instruction. During interviews, the idea that the battery is a constant source of current was used most often in answering the questions. Students tended to focus on the current in solving problems and to confuse terms, often assigning the properties of current to voltage and/or resistance.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 72, Issue 1, Pages 98-115
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
= Instruments
Electricity & Magnetism
- DC Circuits
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Instructor Guide/Manual
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Educators
- application/pdf
- text/html
- application/postscript
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Access Rights:
Available by subscription
Restriction:
© 2004 American Journal of Physics
Additional information is available.
DOI:
10.1119/1.1614813
Keywords:
DC circuits, electrical resistivity, networks (circuits), teaching
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created June 13, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
August 14, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
January 1, 2004
Other Collections:

Difficult to access

Author: Jennifer Broekman
Posted: April 18, 2008 at 4:16PM
Source: The Physics Front collection

This sounds like an excellent article. Unfortunately, you need to either subscribe to AJP Online or pay for the article in order to read it, as far as I can tell.

» reply

Re: Difficult to access

Author: Caroline Hall-Managing Editor
Posted:

> On Apr 18, 2008, Jennifer Broekman posted:
>
> This sounds
> like an excellent article. Unfortunately, you need
> to either subscribe to AJP Online or pay for the article
> in order to read it, as far as I can tell.

Jennifer,
When you click on the URL link, it takes you to a web page with an abstract of the article.  If you scroll down a bit, it gives you the option to link to the full text.  You can choose HTML, PDF, or zipped formats to download the full article.  I clicked on "PDF" and the complete article downloaded with no problem.  Hope this helps,
Caroline Hall, Associate Editor

» reply

Re: Re: Difficult to access

Author: Lyle
Posted:

Hello Caroline,

This is likely because you accessed the document from a University campus.  Many campuses are set up so that access is automatically granted through the university's library agreement.

From home, I, like Jennifer, am not able to access the article.

Thank you,
-Lyle

» reply

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Record Link
AIP Format
P. Engelhardt and R. Beichner, , Am. J. Phys. 72 (1), 98 (2004), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813).
AJP/PRST-PER
P. Engelhardt and R. Beichner, Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits, Am. J. Phys. 72 (1), 98 (2004), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813>.
APA Format
Engelhardt, P., & Beichner, R. (2004, January 1). Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits. Am. J. Phys., 72(1), 98-115. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813
Chicago Format
Engelhardt, Paula, and Robert Beichner. "Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits." Am. J. Phys. 72, no. 1, (January 1, 2004): 98-115, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813 (accessed 19 March 2024).
MLA Format
Engelhardt, Paula, and Robert Beichner. "Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits." Am. J. Phys. 72.1 (2004): 98-115. 19 Mar. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Paula Engelhardt and Robert Beichner", Title = {Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits}, Journal = {Am. J. Phys.}, Volume = {72}, Number = {1}, Pages = {98-115}, Month = {January}, Year = {2004} }
Refer Export Format

%A Paula Engelhardt %A Robert Beichner %T Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits %J Am. J. Phys. %V 72 %N 1 %D January 1, 2004 %P 98-115 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Engelhardt, Paula %A Beichner, Robert %D January 1, 2004 %T Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits %J Am. J. Phys. %V 72 %N 1 %P 98-115 %8 January 1, 2004 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1614813


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