Philippine E-Journals

Conceptual Understanding of Forces Among Physics Majors

Robert C. Roleda

Discipline: Education, Science

 

Abstract:

Conceptual understanding of forces among physics majors at De La Salle University were evaluated using the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). The FCJ scores were found to vary from an average of 23.0% for freshmen to 39.74% for seniors. Only one out of 81 physics majors of all year levels was found to be a clearly Newtonian thinker. While there is a marked difference in the understanding of inertia and falling bodies between freshmen and seniors, conceptual understanding of kinematics, Newton's 2"d and 3'd Laws, and force identification did not reach the 50% level from first to fourth year.