Astronomy Education Review
By Danaia, L and McKinnon, M
“Common Alternative Astronomical Conceptions Encountered in Junior Secondary Science Classes: Why Is This So?”
Publisher:
2/6
Pp. 32-53
2008
Common Alternative Astronomical Conceptions Encountered in Junior Secondary Science Classes: Why Is This So?
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Test
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: 6th-8th grade — 12-14 years
Day and Night
- The Earth orbits the Sun to make night/day. Earth orbits Sun daily.
- Day and night is caused by the Sun going around the Earth.
- Day and night is caused by the Sun going around the Earth.
- Day and night is equivalent to the seasons.
- Day and night is caused by the Sun going around the Earth.
- The Earth orbits the Sun by day and the Moon by night.
- Moon blocks sunlight at night. Moon orbits the Earth daily.
Movement of the Sun
- The Sun always rises in the east and sets in the west.
- The Sun is directly overhead at noon every day.
- The Sun is only directly overhead on one or two days per year.
- Confusion with northern hemisphere.
Orbits of the Earth and Moon about the Sun
- Earth rotates at centre of system and the Sun and/or Moon goes round the Earth.
- The Moon and the Earth orbit the Sun together in the same orbital path.
- The Earth orbits the Sun by day and the Moon by night.
- The Moon orbits the Sun. Earth not mentioned.
- The Moon goes around the Earth in a single day.
- The Sun, Moon and Earth go around in the same orbit.
Phases of the Moon
- Phases of the Moon are caused by amounts of sunlight shining on Moon.
- Phases of the Moon are caused by distance from Earth/Sun.
- Phases of the Moon are caused by the Sun covering Moon.
- Phases of the Moon are caused by the Sun orbiting Moon.
- Light reflected from Earth lighting the bit of Moon we see.
- Different countries see different phases of the Moon on the same day.
Eclipses
- An eclipse of the Sun happens at full Moon- only then it is BIG ENOUGH to cover the Sun.
- Total eclipses of the Sun can happen at any phase of Moon.
The Causes of Seasons
- Seasons are caused by the Earth’s distance from the Sun.
- The Sun is on one side of the Earth making it hot for 6 months while the other side colder.
- One side of the Sun is cooler than the other.
- Clouds in winter block light coming from the Sun, weakening.