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E. B. Merki, S. I. Hofer, Andreas Vaterlaus, and Andreas Lichtenberger
When describing motion in physics, the selection of a frame of reference is crucial. The graph of a moving object can look quite different based on the frame of reference. In recent years, various tests have been developed to assess the interpretation of kinematic graphs, but none of these tests have specifically addressed differences in reference frames. Moreover, existing tests that explore differences in reference frame typically focus on the equivalence principle through written answers, interviews, or simple calculations and vector addition; however, none of these tests evaluate position-time graphs. To address this gap in the research, we developed and evaluated the Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs (IGT). The IGT consists of 15 multiple-choice items that systematically use position-time graphs of linear uniform motion to assess the understanding of 3 types of Galilean transformations: the identity transformation, the transformation between two (opposing) stationary displaced frames of reference, and the transformation from a stationary into a uniformly moving frame of reference. Herein, we presented the development and validation of the IGT.
Physical Review Physics Education Research: Volume 21, Issue 2, Pages 020118
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<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=17092">Merki, E, S. Hofer, A. Vaterlaus, and A. Lichtenberger. "Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21, no. 2, (August 25, 2025): 020118.</a>
E. Merki, S. Hofer, A. Vaterlaus, and A. Lichtenberger, , Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21 (2), 020118 (2025), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12).
E. Merki, S. Hofer, A. Vaterlaus, and A. Lichtenberger, Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21 (2), 020118 (2025), <https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12>.
Merki, E., Hofer, S., Vaterlaus, A., & Lichtenberger, A. (2025, August 25). Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res., 21(2), 020118. Retrieved July 14, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12
Merki, E, S. Hofer, A. Vaterlaus, and A. Lichtenberger. "Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21, no. 2, (August 25, 2025): 020118, https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12 (accessed 14 July 2026).
Merki, E. B., S. I. Hofer, Andreas Vaterlaus, and Andreas Lichtenberger. "Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 21.2 (2025): 020118. 14 July 2026 <https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12>.
@article{
Author = "E. B. Merki and S. I. Hofer and Andreas Vaterlaus and Andreas Lichtenberger",
Title = {Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res.},
Volume = {21},
Number = {2},
Pages = {020118},
Month = {August},
Year = {2025}
}
%A E. B. Merki %A S. I. Hofer %A Andreas Vaterlaus %A Andreas Lichtenberger %T Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 21 %N 2 %D August 25, 2025 %P 020118 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12 %O application/pdf %0 Journal Article %A Merki, E. B. %A Hofer, S. I. %A Vaterlaus, Andreas %A Lichtenberger, Andreas %D August 25, 2025 %T Inventory of Galilean Transformation of uniform linear motion in position-time graphs %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 21 %N 2 %P 020118 %8 August 25, 2025 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/ww1x-kr12 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.
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