Many students cannot correctly define 'an image’

For example, some students believe images made by lenses can be in two places and/or lenses are not necessary to form images e.g. all objects will form an image.

Resources to Address This

• Pinhole camera and lens camera (11-16)

  Ref - Practical Physics; Light and optics; Pinhole camera and lens camera; 

  Carrying out this series of activities will consolidate the idea of an image.  It also shows clearly the effect of a lens bringing together a series of images.

  View Resource

References

The following studies have documented this misconception:

• Fetherstonhaugh, T. and Treagust, D. F. (1992) Students’ Understanding of Light and Its Properties: Teaching to Engender Conceptual Change. Science Education, 76 (6),

  653-672.

  Review sheet

• Kaltakci-Gurel, D., Eryilmaz, A. & McDermott, L. C. (2017) Development and application of a four-tier test to assess pre-service physics teachers’ misconceptions about geometrical optics. Research in Science & Technological Education, 35 (2),

  238-260,

  https://doi.org/10.1080/02635143.2017.1310094.

  Review sheet