home - login - register

Journal Article Detail Page

American Journal of Physics
written by Luanna G. Ortiz, Paula R. L. Heron, and Peter S. Shaffer
We report on an investigation of student ability to account for static equilibrium in the simple familiar case in which an object is balanced on a frictionless pivot or fulcrum. Written questions were administered to more than 1000 university students who had completed the relevant instruction in introductory calculus-based physics. Almost all the students were able to answer questions about simple systems composed of point-like objects. However, when the mass distribution was continuous, most students attributed equilibrium to forces of equal magnitude applied on both sides of the fulcrum. Moreover, many students treated horizontal and tilted bodies, even if they were at rest, as distinct cases. The difficulties we identified were very persistent. Hands-on activities that were not influenced by research results had no discernible effect on student performance. Direct attempts to address specific difficulties using lecture demonstrations based on the research tasks described in this article led to some improvement. Greater success has been achieved by using a tutorial in which students work in small groups on experiments and exercises suggested by research findings.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 73, Issue 6, Pages 545-553
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Statics of Rigid Bodies
= Equilibrium
Education - Applied Research
- Instructional Material Design
= Tutorial
Education - Basic Research
- Alternative Conceptions
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Article
= Research study
PER-Central Type Intended Users Ratings
- PER Literature
- Researchers
- Educators
  • Currently 0.0/5

Want to rate this material?
Login here!


Formats:
application/pdf
non-digital
text/html
Access Rights:
Available by subscription and
Available for purchase
Restriction:
© 2005 American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/1.1862640
ISSN Number:
00029505
NSF Numbers:
9354501
9727648
PACSs:
01.50.Pa
46.00.00
Keywords:
center of mass, static equilibrium, torque
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created July 12, 2012 by Zachary Davis
Record Updated:
May 28, 2013 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
June 1, 2005
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
L. Ortiz, P. Heron, and P. Shaffer, , Am. J. Phys. 73 (6), 545 (2005), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640).
AJP/PRST-PER
L. Ortiz, P. Heron, and P. Shaffer, Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing, Am. J. Phys. 73 (6), 545 (2005), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640>.
APA Format
Ortiz, L., Heron, P., & Shaffer, P. (2005, June 1). Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing. Am. J. Phys., 73(6), 545-553. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640
Chicago Format
Ortiz, L, P. Heron, and P. Shaffer. "Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing." Am. J. Phys. 73, no. 6, (June 1, 2005): 545-553, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640 (accessed 3 December 2024).
MLA Format
Ortiz, Luanna, Paula R. L. Heron, and Peter Shaffer. "Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing." Am. J. Phys. 73.6 (2005): 545-553. 3 Dec. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Luanna Ortiz and Paula R. L. Heron and Peter Shaffer", Title = {Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing}, Journal = {Am. J. Phys.}, Volume = {73}, Number = {6}, Pages = {545-553}, Month = {June}, Year = {2005} }
Refer Export Format

%A Luanna Ortiz %A Paula R. L. Heron %A Peter Shaffer %T Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing %J Am. J. Phys. %V 73 %N 6 %D June 1, 2005 %P 545-553 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Ortiz, Luanna %A Heron, Paula R. L. %A Shaffer, Peter %D June 1, 2005 %T Student understanding of static equilibrium: Predicting and accounting for balancing %J Am. J. Phys. %V 73 %N 6 %P 545-553 %8 June 1, 2005 %@ 00029505 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862640


Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

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

The AJP/PRST-PER presented is based on the AIP Style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

Save to my folders

Contribute

Similar Materials