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Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r
written by Gyoungho Lee and Jinseog Yi
During our investigation of students' understanding of gravitational potential energy, we found some difficulties that students have with this topic. Many students who took upper-level mechanics courses had difficulties in understanding why there are two different expressions of gravitational potential energy. These students said they had some difficulties in understanding why there should be two different signs (+ & -) and two different forms (g & 1/r) even though these expressions were considered as representing the same gravitational potential energy. To gain understanding of the sources of student difficulties, we used weekly reports and individual interviews. We analyzed student difficulties in terms of conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge, and contextual knowledge. The results of these research have guided the development of teaching material that addresses students' difficulties in understanding gravitational potential energy. We will show the development process and contents of the material in the second paper on this topic.
Physics Education Research Conference 2006
Part of the PER Conference series
Syracuse, New York: July 26-27, 2006
Volume 883, Pages 165-168
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Gravity
Education - Applied Research
- Instructional Material Design
Education - Basic Research
- Assessment
- Cognition
- Learning Theory
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Formats:
application/pdf
non-digital
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2508718
Access Rights:
Available for purchase
Restriction:
© 2006 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.2508718
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
01.40.Ha
04.30.-w
Keywords:
PERC 2006, development of teaching material, gravitational waves, interviews, learning theory, student difficulties, weekly reports
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created June 4, 2007 by Shawn Weatherford
Record Updated:
July 16, 2013 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
January 30, 2007
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Record Link
AIP Format
G. Lee and J. Yi, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122).
AJP/PRST-PER
G. Lee and J. Yi, Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, 2006, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122>.
APA Format
Lee, G., & Yi, J. (2006, July 26-27). Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122
Chicago Format
Lee, Gyoungho, and Jinseog Yi. "Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2006, Syracuse, New York, July 26-27, 2006. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122 (accessed 14 December 2024).
MLA Format
Lee, Gyoungho, and Jinseog Yi. "Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r." Physics Education Research Conference 2006. Syracuse, New York: 2006. 165-168 Vol. 883 of PER Conference. 14 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Gyoungho Lee and Jinseog Yi", Title = {Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2006}, Pages = {165-168}, Address = {Syracuse, New York}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {883}, Month = {July 26-27}, Year = {2006} }
Refer Export Format

%A Gyoungho Lee %A Jinseog Yi %T Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r %S PER Conference %V 883 %D July 26-27 2006 %P 165-168 %C Syracuse, New York %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %O July 26-27 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Lee, Gyoungho %A Yi, Jinseog %D July 26-27 2006 %T Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r %B Physics Education Research Conference 2006 %C Syracuse, New York %V 883 %P 165-168 %S PER Conference %8 July 26-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=5260&DocID=2122


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Addressing Students' Difficulties in Understanding Two Different Expressions of Gravitational Potential Energy (I): mgh & -GMm/r:


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