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Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation
written by Pablo Barniol, Genaro Zavala, and Carlos Hinojosa
In this article we investigate students' difficulties in interpreting the torque vector in a physical situation. To identify these difficulties, we carried out task-based interviews with undergraduate physics majors completing a junior level course in mechanics. In the task, we presented a drawing of a beam that is initially at equilibrium over a fulcrum. Later, a weight is hung from the left side. We detected an alternative conception in which students thought that the left side of the beam and the weight would have additional motion in the direction of the torque vector. To quantify students having this alternative conception, we designed and administered a multiple-choice question to undergraduate physics majors completing a sophomore-level modern physics course. We found that 18% of the students had this conception. Based on these results, we present some suggestions for instruction of the torque vector concept.
Physics Education Research Conference 2012
Part of the PER Conference series
Philadelphia, PA: August 1-2, 2012
Volume 1513, Pages 58-61
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Statics of Rigid Bodies
= Static Torque
Education - Basic Research
- Alternative Conceptions
- Upper Undergraduate
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
PER-Central Type Intended Users Ratings
- PER Literature
- Researchers
- Professional/Practitioners
- Educators
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Formats:
application/pdf
non-digital
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4789651
Access Rights:
Free access and
Available for purchase
A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2012 proceedings is available for purchase from the AIP.
Restriction:
© 2012 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.4789651
PACS:
01.40.Fk
Keywords:
PERC 2012, student misconceptions, torque vector
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created March 16, 2013 by Zachary Davis
Record Updated:
December 17, 2013 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
January 24, 2013
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Record Link
AIP Format
P. Barniol, G. Zavala, and C. Hinojosa, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, 2012, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239).
AJP/PRST-PER
P. Barniol, G. Zavala, and C. Hinojosa, Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, 2012, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239>.
APA Format
Barniol, P., Zavala, G., & Hinojosa, C. (2012, August 1-2). Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239
Chicago Format
Barniol, P, G. Zavala, and C. Hinojosa. "Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2012, Philadelphia, PA, August 1-2, 2012. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239 (accessed 2 November 2024).
MLA Format
Barniol, Pablo, Genaro Zavala, and Carlos Hinojosa. "Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation." Physics Education Research Conference 2012. Philadelphia, PA: 2012. 58-61 Vol. 1513 of PER Conference. 2 Nov. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Pablo Barniol and Genaro Zavala and Carlos Hinojosa", Title = {Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2012}, Pages = {58-61}, Address = {Philadelphia, PA}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1513}, Month = {August 1-2}, Year = {2012} }
Refer Export Format

%A Pablo Barniol %A Genaro Zavala %A Carlos Hinojosa %T Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation %S PER Conference %V 1513 %D August 1-2 2012 %P 58-61 %C Philadelphia, PA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2012 %O August 1-2 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Barniol, Pablo %A Zavala, Genaro %A Hinojosa, Carlos %D August 1-2 2012 %T Students' Difficulties in Interpreting the Torque Vector in a Physical Situation %B Physics Education Research Conference 2012 %C Philadelphia, PA %V 1513 %P 58-61 %S PER Conference %8 August 1-2 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12662&DocID=3239


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