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American Journal of Physics
written by Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, and Stamatis Vokos
This article reports on an investigation of student understanding of the concept of time in special relativity. A series of research tasks are discussed that illustrate, step-by-step, how student reasoning of fundamental concepts of relativity was probed. The results indicate that after standard instruction students at all academic levels have serious difficulties with the relativity of simultaneity and with the role of observers in inertial reference frames. Evidence is presented that suggests many students construct a conceptual framework in which the ideas of absolute simultaneity and the relativity of simultaneity harmoniously co-exist.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 69, Issue S1, Pages S24-S35
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Assessment
- Cognition
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Mirror:
http://scitation.aip.org/journals…
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Available by subscription
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© 2001 American Journal of Physics
Additional information is available.
DOI:
10.1119/1.1371254
Keywords:
Concept Formation, Higher Education, Physics, Relativity, Science Education, Thinking Skills
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created July 14, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
August 22, 2009 by Gregory Comer
Last Update
when Cataloged:
July 1, 2001
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Record Link
AIP Format
R. Scherr, P. Shaffer, and S. Vokos, , Am. J. Phys. 69 (S1), S24 (2001), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254).
AJP/PRST-PER
R. Scherr, P. Shaffer, and S. Vokos, Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames, Am. J. Phys. 69 (S1), S24 (2001), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254>.
APA Format
Scherr, R., Shaffer, P., & Vokos, S. (2001, July 1). Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames. Am. J. Phys., 69(S1), S24-S35. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254
Chicago Format
Scherr, R, P. Shaffer, and S. Vokos. "Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames." Am. J. Phys. 69, no. S1, (July 1, 2001): S24-S35, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254 (accessed 29 March 2024).
MLA Format
Scherr, Rachel, Peter Shaffer, and Stamatis Vokos. "Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames." Am. J. Phys. 69.S1 (2001): S24-S35. 29 Mar. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Rachel Scherr and Peter Shaffer and Stamatis Vokos", Title = {Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames}, Journal = {Am. J. Phys.}, Volume = {69}, Number = {S1}, Pages = {S24-S35}, Month = {July}, Year = {2001} }
Refer Export Format

%A Rachel Scherr %A Peter Shaffer %A Stamatis Vokos %T Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames %J Am. J. Phys. %V 69 %N S1 %D July 1, 2001 %P S24-S35 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Scherr, Rachel %A Shaffer, Peter %A Vokos, Stamatis %D July 1, 2001 %T Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames %J Am. J. Phys. %V 69 %N S1 %P S24-S35 %8 July 1, 2001 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1371254


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