3 papers
physics.ed-ph2011
Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems
Brian M. Stephanik, Peter S. Shaffer
The Physics Education Group at the University of Washington is examining the extent to which students are able to use graphs of potential energy vs. position to infer kinematic and…
physics.ed-ph2002
Student understanding of time in special relativity: simultaneity and reference frames
Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, Stamatis Vokos
This article reports on an investigation of student understanding of the concept of time in special relativity. A series of research tasks are discussed that illustrate, step-by-st…
physics.ed-ph2002
The challenge of changing deeply-held student beliefs about the relativity of simultaneity
Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, Stamatis Vokos
Previous research indicates that after standard instruction students at all academic levels often construct a conceptual framework in which the ideas of absolute simultaneity and t…