The Electric Circuit - A System Approach
Abstract
The traditional treatment of the electric circuit in textbooks can be criticized in at least three respects: A) Knowledge of the global aspects of the electric circuit as a system is essential for a deeper understanding. However, this is not sufficiently emphasized. B) The presentation of the term “potential difference” or “volt-age” as energy per charge is too abstract, without reference to surface charges that are always present. C) The treatment of the electric circuit, based on Ohm´s law and Kirchhoff´s rules, is exclusively based on stationary states, without including the ever-existing transition processes. This article concentrates on the global aspects of the electric circuit as a system and its importance for a deeper understanding; it also provides detailed in-formation for corresponding classroom activities. The other two critical points are treated in subsequent arti-cles.References
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Wiesner, H., Jung, W., Kiowski, I., Weber, E. (1982). Zur Einführung von Stromstärke und Spannung. Naturwissenschaft im Unterricht P/C S. 388-394
Driver, R., Squires, A., Rushworth, P., & Wood-Robinson, V. (2014). Making sense of sec-ondary science: Research into children's ideas. Routledge.
Glynn, S. (1995). Conceptual bridges: Using analogies to explain scientific concepts. Science Teacher, 62(9), 24-27.
Härtel, H. (1981) IPN-Teaching Unit „The Electric Circuit as a System“ for grade 7 and 8 Klett. Updated and shortened edition (in German) available since 2010 (http://www.astrophysik.uni-kiel.de/~hhaertel/PUB/Stromkreis.htm)
Härtel, H. (1982). The electric circuit as a system: A new approach. European Journal of Sci-ence Education, 4(1), 45-55.
ISSC-Florida State University. (1970). Probing the Natural World.
Intermediate Science Curriculum, Study, Silver Burdett Company.
McDermott, L. C. Shaffer, P. S. (1992). Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part 1: Investigation of student understand-ing. Am. J. Phys. 60, 996
Muckenfuss, H. (1992). Neue Wege im Elektrikunterricht. Aulis Verlag
Müller, R., Wodzinski, R., Hopf, M. (2004). Schülervorstellungen in der Physik.
Aulis Köln.
Pfister, H. (2004). Illustrating Electric Circuit Concepts with the Glitter Circuit. Phys. Teach. 42, 359-363.
Rhöneck, v. C., Völker B. (1982). Einfache Elektrizitätslehre zwischen physikalischem An-spruch und Lernschwierigkeiten. Naturwissenschaft im Unterricht P/C 30.
Schwedes, H., Dudeck, W.-G., Seidel, C. (1995) Elektrizitätslehre mit Wassermodellen. Praxis der Naturwissenschaften 2/44, 28-36
diSessa, A. A. (1993). Towards an Epistemology of Physics. Cognition and Instruction, 10 (2), 105-225.
Singh, V. (2010). The Electron Runaround. Understanding Electric Circuit Basics Through a Classroom Activity. Phys. Teach. 48, 309-311.
Slater, T. E., Adams J. P. , and Brown, Th. R. (2001). Undergraduate success-and failure in completing a simple circuit, J. Coll.Sci.Teach. 30, 96-99.
Wiesner, H., Jung, W., Kiowski, I., Weber, E. (1982). Zur Einführung von Stromstärke und Spannung. Naturwissenschaft im Unterricht P/C S. 388-394
Published
2021-08-23
How to Cite
HAERTEL, Hermann.
The Electric Circuit - A System Approach.
European Journal of Physics Education, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 3, p. 1-18, aug. 2021.
ISSN 1309-7202.
Available at: <https://eu-journal.org/index.php/EJPE/article/view/254>. Date accessed: 20 apr. 2024.
Section
Articles
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