Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Abstract
This paper reports on a study of student understanding of the nature and properties of light prior to instruction and by the completion of a unit on geometrical optics in a General Physics II course at University of Northern Iowa. The emphasis of this study was placed on the ability to make connections between the formalism of physics and real world phenomena. The ability to apply appropriate concepts and principles from geometrical optics, including the drawing of ray diagrams, to predict and explain image formation and light behavior was chosen as the operational criterion to assess students' conceptual understanding. The investigation focused on individual inquiry skills, conceptual thinking, and changes in both. The comparison of ideas expressed by the subjects on the pre-instruction questionnaire and post-instruction interviews indicated that many students fail to interpret diagrammatic and verbal formalism commonly used in instruction and Physics textbooks. It was found that many students do not develop a conceptual understanding of light properties that they can apply to predict and explain basic optical phenomena. A major objective of this investigation was to contribute to the research base for improving the match between Physics teaching and learning.
Year of Submission
2000
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Physics
First Advisor
Roy Unruh
Second Advisor
Cherin Lee
Third Advisor
Timothy Cooney
Date Original
2000
Object Description
1 PDF file (92 leaves)
Copyright
©2000 Ekaterina Denissova
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Denissova, Ekaterina, "An Investigation of Student Understanding of Light in Geometrical Optics: Relating Formalism to Conceptual Understanding of the Physical Phenomena" (2000). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2483.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2483
Comments
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