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American Journal of Physics
written by R cohen, Bat-Sheva Eylon, and Uri Ganiel
A study which was designed to identify students' concepts of simple electric circuits is reported. A diagnostic questionnaire was administered to a sample of 145 high school students and 21 physics teachers. The questionnaire included mainly qualitative questions which were designed to examine students' understanding of the functional relationships between the variables in an electric circuit. The main findings obtained from the analysis of the responses are current is the primary concept used by students, whereas potential difference is regarded as a consequence of current flow, and not as its cause. Consequently students often use V=IR incorrectly. A battery is regarded as a source of constant current. The concepts of emf and internal resistance are not well understood. Students have difficulties in analyzing the effect which a change in one component has on the rest of the circuit. This is probably due to the more general difficulty students have in dealing with a simultaneous change of several variables.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 51, Issue 5, Pages 407-412
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Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
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General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
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© 1983 American Journal of Physics
Additional information is available.
DOI:
10.1119/1.13226
Keywords:
electric circuits, high school students, misconceptions, physics teachers
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created June 13, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
September 27, 2007 by Rebecca Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
May 1, 1983
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AIP Format
R. Cohen, B. Eylon, and U. Ganiel, , Am. J. Phys. 51 (5), 407 (1983), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226).
AJP/PRST-PER
R. Cohen, B. Eylon, and U. Ganiel, Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student’s concepts, Am. J. Phys. 51 (5), 407 (1983), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226>.
APA Format
Cohen, R., Eylon, B., & Ganiel, U. (1983, May 1). Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student’s concepts. Am. J. Phys., 51(5), 407-412. Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226
Chicago Format
Cohen, R, B. Eylon, and U. Ganiel. "Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student’s concepts." Am. J. Phys. 51, no. 5, (May 1, 1983): 407-412, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226 (accessed 27 April 2024).
MLA Format
Cohen, R, Bat-Sheva Eylon, and Uri Ganiel. "Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student’s concepts." Am. J. Phys. 51.5 (1983): 407-412. 27 Apr. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "R Cohen and Bat-Sheva Eylon and Uri Ganiel", Title = {Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student’s concepts}, Journal = {Am. J. Phys.}, Volume = {51}, Number = {5}, Pages = {407-412}, Month = {May}, Year = {1983} }
Refer Export Format

%A R Cohen %A Bat-Sheva Eylon %A Uri Ganiel %T Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student's concepts %J Am. J. Phys. %V 51 %N 5 %D May 1, 1983 %P 407-412 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226 %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Cohen, R %A Eylon, Bat-Sheva %A Ganiel, Uri %D May 1, 1983 %T Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of student's concepts %J Am. J. Phys. %V 51 %N 5 %P 407-412 %8 May 1, 1983 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.13226


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