Understanding Analogous Atomic and Solar Systems

Upper Secondary Students' Understanding of the Basic Physical Interactions in Analogous Atomic and Solar Systems

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One of Keith's publications is:

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The author's manuscript version may be downloaded here.

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Abstract

Comparing the atom to a 'tiny solar system' is a common teaching analogy, and the extent to which learners saw the systems as analogous was investigated. English upper secondary students were asked parallel questions about the physical interactions between the components of a simple atomic system and a simple solar system to investigate how they understood the forces acting within the two systems. A sample of just over 100 across the 15-18 age range responded to a pencil-and-paper instrument that asked about four aspects of the two systems. It was found that for both systems, about four fifths of students expected forces to decrease with increasing distance; but that only a little over half expected there to be interactions between the minor constituents (electrons and planets). Most students failed to apply Newton's third law to either system. There was a considerable difference in the extent to which respondents were able to identify the type of force acting in the systems (nearly all for the solar system, but only a small proportion in the case of the atom). The findings are considered in terms of both the limitations of students' understanding of the basic physics and possible implications for the use of the teaching analogy.

Keywords

• Teaching analogy
• Analogical transfer
• Conceptions of forces
• Chemistry-physics interface
• Implicit knowledge

Contents:

• Introduction
• Metaphor and Analogy in Teaching
• Analogies as Teaching Models
• The Structure of Analogy
• The Atom and the Solar System
• Making the Unfamiliar, Familiar
• Learners' Notions About the Analogous Systems
• Research Question
• Methodology
• A Diagnostic Probe
• Respondents
• Analysis
• Findings: Student Perceptions of Forces in the Two Systems
• Forces in the Atomic System
• Forces in the Solar System
• Comparing Responses Across the Two Systems
• Discussion
• Appreciating the Nature of Interactions in Atomic Systems
• Intuitive Understandings of Forces
• Conclusion

The version of record can be found on Springer Link

The author's manuscript version may be downloaded here.

The probe used in this research is available from the Royal Society of Chemistry