Some students think that gases do not have mass
Misconception
For example, some students believe that air weighs nothing. They may also believe that “gas always weighs less than a solid.”
Diagnostic Resources
The following worksheets may help to identify whether students hold this particular misconception.
For more information, see the University of York BEST website.
References
- Andersson, B., () Pupils' Conceptions of Matter and its Transformations (age 12-16), Studies in Science Education, 18, 53-85.
This research shows that some of the misconceptions students have about matter are reinforced by the learning materials and approaches used in classrooms. Textbook illustrations can give false impressions about sizes, scales and movement and the limitations of models can give misleading ideas. This paper explains why teachers need to be aware of the misconceptions that can be produced and how to tackle some of them.
Paper digest - Stavy, R., () Children's Conception of Gas, International Journal of Science Education, 10 (5) 553-560.
- Stavy, R., () Children's conception of changes in the state of matter: from liquid (or solid) to gas, Journal of research in science teaching, 27 (3) 247-266.
- Lee, O., Eichinger, D. C., Anderson, C. W., Berkheimer, G. D. and Blakeslee, T. D., () Changing Middle School Students’ Conceptions of Matter and Molecules, Journal of research in science teaching, 30 (3) 249-270.