When constructing ray diagrams or when asked to draw the path of light students rarely draw the lines from source to object
Misconception
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.
Resources to Address This
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Travelling light (5-11)
Rrf - SPT HS01 TA10
Hang the ball from a metre rule and hold it in the beam of light between the light source and the screen. With a good black-out for the room and a strong point source of light, a striking shadow will be produced on the screen. In developing these ideas, you are likely to find yourself sketching out ray diagrams for the children.
View Resource -
Ray diagrams (11-14)
Ref - SPT Li02 TA01
In this activity the teacher talks through the construction of a simple ray diagram for the formation of a shadow, making clear all of the conventions and other thinking behind it.
View Resource
References
The following studies have documented this misconception:
- Grusche, S. () Students’ ideas about prismatic images: teaching experiments for an image-based approach. International Journal of Science Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2017.1312625
- Heywood, D. S. () Primary Trainee Teachers’ Learning and Teaching About Light: Some pedagogic implications for initial teacher training. International Journal of Science Education, 27 (12)
1447-1475.
- Ramadas, J. and Driver, R. () Aspects of secondary students' ideas about light, University of Leeds Centre for Studies in Science & Mathematics Education.