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Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration
written by Rebecca Rosenblatt, Eleanor C. Sayre, and Andrew F. Heckler
We have developed a multiple choice test designed to probe students' conceptual understanding of the relationships among the directions of force, velocity, and acceleration. The test was administered to more than 800 students enrolled in standard or honors introductory physics courses or a second-year physics majors course. The test was found to be reasonably statistically reliable, and correlations of test score with grade, course level, and the Force Concept Inventory were moderate to strong. Further analysis revealed that in addition to the common incorrect response that velocity must be in the direction of the acceleration or net force, up to 30% of students gave "partially correct" responses, for example that velocity can be either opposite to or in the direction of the acceleration or net force but not zero. The data also suggests that for some students their evolution of understanding may progress through this kind of partially incorrect understanding.
Physics Education Research Conference 2009
Part of the PER Conference series
Ann Arbor, Michigan: July 29-30, 2009
Volume 1179, Pages 245-248
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Newton's First Law
= Inertia in Motion
- Newton's Second Law
= Force, Acceleration
Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
= Instruments
- Cognition
= Cognition Development
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- Educators
- application/pdf
- non-digital
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266727
Access Rights:
Free access and
Available for purchase
A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2009 proceedings is also available.
Restriction:
© 2009 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.3266727
PACSs:
01.50.Kw
01.40.Fk
Keywords:
FCI, PERC 2009, assessment instrument, conceptual understanding, mechanics, physics education research, test development
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created October 12, 2009 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:
July 14, 2010 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
November 11, 2009
Other Collections:

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Record Link
AIP Format
R. Rosenblatt, E. Sayre, and A. Heckler, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369).
AJP/PRST-PER
R. Rosenblatt, E. Sayre, and A. Heckler, Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369>.
APA Format
Rosenblatt, R., Sayre, E., & Heckler, A. (2009, July 29-30). Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369
Chicago Format
Rosenblatt, R, E. Sayre, and A. Heckler. "Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369 (accessed 26 April 2024).
MLA Format
Rosenblatt, Rebecca, Eleanor Sayre, and Andrew F. Heckler. "Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration." Physics Education Research Conference 2009. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 2009. 245-248 Vol. 1179 of PER Conference. 26 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Rebecca Rosenblatt and Eleanor Sayre and Andrew F. Heckler", Title = {Modeling students’ conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2009}, Pages = {245-248}, Address = {Ann Arbor, Michigan}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1179}, Month = {July 29-30}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%A Rebecca Rosenblatt %A Eleanor Sayre %A Andrew F. Heckler %T Modeling students' conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration %S PER Conference %V 1179 %D July 29-30 2009 %P 245-248 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Rosenblatt, Rebecca %A Sayre, Eleanor %A Heckler, Andrew F. %D July 29-30 2009 %T Modeling students' conceptual understanding of force, velocity, and acceleration %B Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %V 1179 %P 245-248 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9493&DocID=1369


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