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Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research
Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach
written by David P. Smith and Paul van Kampen
We have investigated preservice science teachers' qualitative understanding of circuits consisting of multiple batteries in single and multiple loops using a pretest and post-test method and classroom observations. We found that most students were unable to explain the effects of adding batteries in single and multiple loops, as they tended to use reasoning based on current and resistance where reasoning based on voltage is a necessity. We also found that problems such as thinking of the battery as a source of constant current resurfaced in this new context, and that answers given were inconsistent with current conservation. We describe the curriculum we developed that enables students to model circuits with multiple batteries qualitatively. Post-test results show that the majority of students were able to apply their newly developed model to make accurate predictions for complex circuits.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education - Applied Research
- Curriculum Development
= Course
- Instructional Material Design
= Activity
= Tutorial
Education - Basic Research
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
- Teacher Characteristics
= Content Knowledge
Electricity & Magnetism
- DC Circuits
= Circuit Analysis
- Graduate/Professional
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Formats:
application/pdf
text/html
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevST…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:
American Physical Society
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.7.020115
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
01.40.jc
01.50.Qb
Keywords:
Pre-Post Assessment, Preservice Teachers, Qualitative Understanding
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created April 30, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
May 21, 2012 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
November 15, 2011
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
D. Smith and P. van Kampen, , Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 7 (2), 020115 (2011), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843).
AJP/PRST-PER
D. Smith and P. van Kampen, Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 7 (2), 020115 (2011), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843>.
APA Format
Smith, D., & van Kampen, P. (2011, November 15). Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach. Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 7(2), 020115. Retrieved December 6, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843
Chicago Format
Smith, David, and Paul van Kampen. "Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 7, no. 2, (November 15, 2011): 020115, https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843 (accessed 6 December 2024).
MLA Format
Smith, David, and Paul van Kampen. "Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 7.2 (2011): 020115. 6 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "David Smith and Paul van Kampen", Title = {Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach}, Journal = {Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res.}, Volume = {7}, Number = {2}, Pages = {020115}, Month = {November}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%A David Smith %A Paul van Kampen %T Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 7 %N 2 %D November 15, 2011 %P 020115 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Smith, David %A van Kampen, Paul %D November 15, 2011 %T Teaching electric circuits with multiple batteries: A qualitative approach %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 7 %N 2 %P 020115 %8 November 15, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11927&DocID=2843


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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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