Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r
written by
Gyoungho Lee and Jinseog Yi
During our investigation of students' understanding of gravitational potential energy, we found some difficulties that students have with this topic. Many students who took upper-level mechanics courses had difficulties in understanding why there are two different expressions of gravitational potential energy. These students said they had some difficulties in understanding why there should be two different signs (+ & ?) and two different forms (g & 1/r) even though these expressions were considered as representing the same gravitational potential energy. To gain understanding of the sources of student difficulties, we used weekly reports and individual interviews. We analyzed student difficulties in terms of conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge, and contextual knowledge. The results of these research have guided the development of teaching material that addresses students' difficulties in understanding gravitational potential energy. We will show the development process and contents of the material in the second paper on this topic.
Physics Education Research Conference 2006
Part of the PER Conference series Syracuse, New York: July 26-27, 2006 Volume 883, Pages 165-168
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=5260">Lee, Gyoungho, and Jinseog Yi. "Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, July 26-27, 2006.</a>
![]() G. Lee and J. Yi, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122).
![]() G. Lee and J. Yi, Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122>.
![]() Lee, G., & Yi, J. (2006, July 26-27). Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122
![]() Lee, Gyoungho, and Jinseog Yi. "Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, July 26-27, 2006. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122 (accessed 16 February 2025).
![]() Lee, Gyoungho, and Jinseog Yi. "Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r." Physics Education Research Conference 2006. Syracuse, New York: 2006. 165-168 Vol. 883 of PER Conference. 16 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Gyoungho Lee and Jinseog Yi",
Title = {Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2006},
Pages = {165-168},
Address = {Syracuse, New York},
Series = {PER Conference},
Volume = {883},
Month = {July 26-27},
Year = {2006}
}
![]() %A Gyoungho Lee %A Jinseog Yi %T Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r %S PER Conference %V 883 %D July 26-27 2006 %P 165-168 %C Syracuse, New York %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %O July 26-27 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Lee, Gyoungho %A Yi, Jinseog %D July 26-27 2006 %T Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r %B Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %C Syracuse, New York %V 883 %P 165-168 %S PER Conference %8 July 26-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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