Identifying student difficulties in special relativity: The notions of "reference system" and "event".
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61174/recacym.v4i1.126Keywords:
Educational physics research, Restricted relativity, Reference system, Event, Space-time graphAbstract
In this paper, we propose an analysis of the difficulties that may impede the understanding of relativistic kinematics teaching. From the answers of master students (involved in secondary school teaching careers) to a paper and pencil questionnaire, we characterize, by inference, some of the reasonings that show an inappropriate use of the concepts of "reference system" and "event" even in the framework of classical kinematics. To respond to these difficulties, we propose a graphical tool (space-time) to "make visible" the consequences of the invariance of the speed of light and to put into operation the definitions of "reference system" and "event".
References
Scherr, R., Schaffer, P. and Vokos, S. Student understanding of time in special relativity:simultaneity and references frames. American Journal of Physics, 2001, n° 69, p. 24-35.
Einstein, A., & Infeld, L. La Evolución de la física, Salvat Editores, Barcelona, 1993.
Noguero, F.L. El analisis de contenido como método de investigación, 21° Revista de Educación, 4 (2002): 167-179. Universidad de Huelva
McDermott, L.C, Rosenquist, M.L. & Van Zee, E.H. Student difficulties inconnecting graphs and physics: examples from kinematics. American Journal of Physics, 1987, n° 55, p. 503-513.
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