Conceptual Understanding of Forces Among Physics Majors
R. Roleda (pp. 20-35)
Abstract
Conceptual understanding of forces among physics majors at De La Salle University were evaluated using the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). The FCI 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 founded to be 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 2nd and 3rd Laws, and force identification did not reach the 50% level from first to fourth year.