Alternative conceptions concerning interference and diffraction of light
Date
1998
Authors
Coetzee, Annaretha
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether alternative conceptions
about interference and diffraction do indeed exist, to identify the most
important of these conceptions and to determine whether these
conceptions relate to textbooks, as one of the main sources of students'
knowledge. An analysis of secondary level textbooks and tertiary level
non-calculus textbooks revealed that presentations of constructive and
destructive interference, diffraction and other related aspects are treated
inconsistently and in some cases contradictorily by different authors. The
research instrument was a Physical Optics test which Physics students of
the Technikon Pretoria wrote. This test revealed that alternative
conceptions on elementary principles of interference and diffraction of
light do exist and that they relate to textbook presentations. This study
reveals that (i) the terms in phese and out of phase are not consistently
used in different textbooks; (ii) the definitions of constructive and
destructive interference in terms of phases cause major aiternative
conceptions, (iii) the interrelation between interference and diffraction is
not clarified.
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Education at the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Keywords
Optics--Study and teaching (Secondary)--South Africa, Optics--Study and teaching (Higher)--South Africa, Textbooks, Diffraction--Study and teaching (Secondary)--South Africa, Diffraction--Study and teaching (Higher)--South Africa, Interference (Light)--Study and teaching (Secondary)--South Africa, Interference (Light)--Study and teaching (Higher)--South Africa
Citation
Coetzee, Annaretha (1998) Alternative conceptions concerning interference and diffraction of light, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22841>