Nastava uvodnog kursa mehanike u srednjoj školi i na fakultetu: iskustva i načini za njeno unapređenje

Abstract

Teaching mechanics, in the context of physics education, has its own particular challenges. The students’ preconceptions, based on their own experience, are often in conflict with the laws of physics. Considering students’ difficulties with physics, insufficient number of physicists and the role of physics in modern society, physics education is important and current topic. The thesis examines: 1. Using powerlifting examples as a practical application for physics laws. To perform the measurements, accelerometers, video analysis and various body models were used. 2. The results of a pedagogical experiment about using demonstrations in physics class. The same topic lesson was covered using different approaches and the students’ conceptual knowledge is compared using statistical analysis (ANOVA and ANCOVA). 3. The challenges students face when studying friction. Also, the development of conceptual test about friction was initiated by creating a list of important concepts about friction. 4. A common students’ misconception about positioning groundreaction force. The thesis suggests a proper explanation with a laboratory demonstration. 5. A systematic approach to drawing free-body diagrams.