Students use an ad hoc collection of ideas about materials and their properties when asked to explain everyday thermal phenomena

Energy and Thermal Physics | Properties of Matter

Misconception RESEARCH REVIEW

Resources to Address This

  • Examples of change of phase (11-16)

    Ref - Practical Physics; Molecules; Changes of phase: Examples of change of phase

    • Although this activity may seem trivial, many children will not be aware that some metals melt at a relatively low temperature.
    • These experiments demonstrate that the phase of matter depends on temperature. The process of melting and freezing, and evaporation and condensing, should be discussed in terms of the change in structure of the materials as well as change in volume.
    View Resource

References

  • Lee, C. K. () A Conceptual Change Model for Teaching Heat Energy, Heat Transfer and Insulation. Science Education International, 25, (4)

    417-437.

    Review sheet

  • Paik, S.H., Cho, B.K., Go Y.M. () Korean 4- to 11-Year-Old Student Conceptions of Heat and Temperature, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44, (2)

    284–302.

    Review sheet

  • Geourgiou, H. and Sharma, M.D. () University students understanding of Thermal Physics in everyday contexts, International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 10,

    1119-1142.

    Review sheet

  • Kesidou, S. and Duit, R. () Students' Conceptions of the Second Law of Thermodynamics- An Interpretive Study, Journal Of Research In Science Teaching, 30, (1)

    85-106.

    Review sheet

RelatedMisconceptions
RESEARCH REVIEW Energy and Thermal Physics

Many students think of temperature as a property of a material (some substances are ‘naturally’ warmer or colder than others)

  • Number of Resources1
  • Number of References9
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources11
RESEARCH REVIEW Energy and Thermal Physics

Students’ explanations of thermal phenomena tend to focus on the properties and behaviours of objects, rather than thinking of the system of objects involved and their interactions

  • Number of Resources1
  • Number of References4
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources2
RESEARCH REVIEW Energy and Thermal Physics

Many students make incorrect quantitative predictions about the temperature of a mixture of two samples of liquid at different initial temperatures, even when they can make correct qualitative predictions

  • Number of Resources1
  • Number of References2
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources4
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