• Open Access

Identifying student and teacher difficulties in interpreting atomic spectra using a quantum model of emission and absorption of radiation

Francisco Savall-Alemany, Josep Lluís Domènech-Blanco, Jenaro Guisasola, and Joaquín Martínez-Torregrosa
Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 12, 010132 – Published 25 May 2016

Abstract

Our study sets out to identify the difficulties that high school students, teachers, and university students encounter when trying to explain atomic spectra. To do so, we identify the key concepts that any quantum model for the emission and absorption of electromagnetic radiation must include to account for the gas spectra and we then design two questionnaires, one for teachers and the other for students. By analyzing the responses, we conclude that (i) teachers lack a quantum model for the emission and absorption of electromagnetic radiation capable of explaining the spectra, (ii) teachers and students share the same difficulties, and (iii) these difficulties concern the model of the atom, the model of radiation, and the model of the interaction between them.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 11 August 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.12.010132

This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Physics Education Research

Authors & Affiliations

Francisco Savall-Alemany

  • Department of General and Specific Didactics, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Josep Lluís Domènech-Blanco

  • Department of General and Specific Didactics, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Jenaro Guisasola

  • Department of Applied Physics, Polytechnic University College of Donostia, University of the Basque Country, 20018 San Sebastian, Spain

Joaquín Martínez-Torregrosa

  • Department of General and Specific Didactics, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain and Instituto Universitario de Física Aplicada a las Ciencias y a la Tecnología, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Article Text

Click to Expand

References

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 12, Iss. 1 — January - June 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Physics Education Research

Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

×

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×