| Location: |
HBC
Gifford |
| Date: |
Monday, July 24 |
| Time: |
8:30
a.m. |
| Author: |
Warren M Christensen, Iowa State University
515-294-1647,
wmchris@iastate.edu
|
| Co-Author(s): |
David
E Meltzer |
| Abstract: |
In
our ongoing investigation into student understanding of thermal
physics in an introductory calculus-based course, we continue to
probe student ideas regarding entropy and the second law of
thermodynamics. Nearly 90% of students enrolled in the class have
had previous exposure to thermodynamics concepts in chemistry and/or
high school physics courses, so many have specific ideas about these
concepts before instruction begins. We will present free-response
and multiple-choice data collected both pre- and post-instruction
from the previous four semesters. Evidence suggests that with some
key concepts, e.g., that the entropy of the universe increases for
all non-ideal processes, modified instruction with research-based
materials may have yielded significant learning gains. However, many
student ideas remain resistant to change despite the modified
instruction. |
| Footnotes: |
Supported in part by NSF grants DUE-#9981140 and
PHY-#0406724. |
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