A Series of In-depth Analyses Based on Data of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)
By Neidorf, Teresa; Arora, Alka; Erberber, Ebru; Tsokodayi, Yemurai; Mai, Thanh
“Student Misconceptions and Errors in Physics and Mathematics Exploring Data from TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced”
Publisher:
Vol. 9
Pp. 64-68
2020
Student Misconceptions and Errors in Physics and Mathematics Exploring Data from TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Test
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: 9th-12 grade — 15-18 years
- Gravitational force (acceleration) acting on objects near Earth’s surface is not constant but changes with the object’s height above the surface.
- Objects thrown upward have no acceleration at their maximum height where the instantaneous velocity is zero (the instant it stops moving upward and reverses direction.
- Gravitational acceleration is always in the direction of motion/velocity (rather than a constant acceleration directed toward the center of Earth).
- The time on the way up and the time on the way down are not equal (i.e., the downward acceleration due to gravity is not treated as constant).
- Gravity acts only on falling objects, but not on objects at rest (on the ground or sitting on another surface) or on objects that are moving upward.
- Gravity alone cannot cause an object initially at rest to start moving; it requires another force/push.
- Gravitational force causes objects to fall “down” (in an “absolute downward” direction in space) rather than toward the center of Earth.
- Gravity pushes upward on objects sitting on a solid surface and on objects that are moving upward.
- Gravity can move objects in other directions that are not “down” toward the surface of Earth.