PHYSICS STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF RELATIVE SPEED - A PHENOMENOGRAPHICSTUDY

It is important that students of physics develop both quantitative and qualitative understanding of physical concepts and principles. Althou gh accuracy and reliability in solving quantitative problems is necess ary, a qualitative understanding is required in applying concepts and principles to new problems and in real-life situations. If students ar e not able to understand what underlies quantitative problem-solving p rocedures nor interpret the solution in physical terms, it is question able whether they have developed an adequate understanding of physics. The research reported here is part of a larger phenomenographic study that is concerned with the assessment of physics students' understand ing of some basic concepts and principles in kinematics. In this artic le students' understanding of the concept of relative speed is describ ed. A variety of ways of understanding relative speed and of viewing a problem that dealt with this concept were uncovered. The results are used to suggest ways for teachers to proceed in assisting students to enhance their understanding of this concept. The teaching principles o utlined concern both teaching relative speed, in particular, and teach ing scientific concepts and principles, more generally.