Many students associate ‘energy’ with humans and other living things
Energy and Thermal Physics
Misconception
They think of energy as something that is needed for life and for activity.
Resources to Address This
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Words used to describe energy (11-16)
The topic of energy needs to be visited many times with a gradual increase in the depth of teaching. As there is no convenient definition of energy for beginners, the concept needs to develop slowly. It benefits from a spiral approach to teaching.
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References
- Svedholm, A. M. and Lindeman, M. () Healing, Mental Energy in the Physics Classroom: Energy Conceptions and Trust in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Grade 10-12 Students. Science & Education, 22, 677-694.
- M. Louisa, F. C. S. Veiga, D. J. V. Costa Pereira and R. Maskill, () Teachers' language and pupils' ideas in science lessons: Can teachers avoid reinforcing wrong ideas? International Journal of Science Education, 11 (4)
465-479.
- Legett, M. () Lessons that non-scientists can teach us about the concept of energy: a human-centred approach Physics Education, 38,
130.
- Finegold, M. and Trumper, R. () Categorizing pupils' explanatory frameworks in energy as a means to the development of a teaching approach. Research in Science Education, 19,
97-110.
- Trumper, R. () Children's energy concepts: a cross‐age study, International Journal of Science Education, 15, (2) Routledge,
139-148.