SAIP2012

Investigation of the understanding of heat-time graphs by extended program students at the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria

11 Jul 2012, 17:10

20m

Oral Presentation Track E - Physics Education Education

Speaker

Dr CABLE MOJI (UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA)

Apply to be<br> consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

No

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

N/A

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

Yes

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

Students have difficulties when they have to express some motions in terms of graphs. In a lesson studying cooling and warming up of liquid in containers insulated and uninsulated, students showed inadequate understanding of how to draw the warming up graphs even if cooling curves were intensively studied. About 40 % of the students were able to explain "correctly" how the warming up occurs, but not able to to indicate what they have correctly explained graphically. Identifying such difficulties equip lecturers with the expertise to successfully confront the problem of poor understanding.

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

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