Many students will be familiar with light being described in 'bits' and being contained to specific areas
Misconception
For example, 'that bit of light'. As a consequence some students consider light as a static entity with fixed dimensions and some students may not think light travels at all.
Resources to Address This
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Light is travelling between source and effect (5-11)
Ref - SPT HS01 TL01
There is a significant job for the teacher in working with those children who think of light only in terms of a source and effect. The question of where light comes from in the first place will need to be posed and ideas of light travelling from source to effect introduced.
View Resource -
Travelling between source and effect (11-14)
Ref - SPT Li01 TL03
There is a significant job for the teacher in working with those pupils who think of light only in terms of a source and effect. The question of where light comes from in the first place will need to be posed and ideas of light travelling from source to effect introduced.
View Resource -
Light passing through nothing (14-16)
Ref - SPT Ra01 TL10
Right Lines:In fact there is nothing, no stuff, vibrating back and forwards in a light wave. The vibrations consist of changing electric and magnetic fields.
This resource explores the idea of 'ether'.
View Resource
References
The following studies have documented this misconception:
- Muñoz-Franco, G.; Criado, A. M. and García-Carmon, A. () Investigating Image Formation with a Camera Obscura: a Study in Initial Primary Science Teacher Education, Research in Science Education.
- E. J. Wenham and E. Guesne. () The Place of Optics in Physics Teaching - Children's Ideas about Light. New Trends in Physics Teaching, IV,
176-192.
- Ramadas, J. and Driver, R. () Aspects of secondary students' ideas about light, University of Leeds Centre for Studies in Science & Mathematics Education.