Considerations regarding the teaching approach of a sinusoidal wave traveling along a string

The concept of a sinusoidal wave traveling along a string is included in all secondary education physics books and as a result is being taught in undergraduate lectures around the globe. The didactic approach that follows is advantageous since it provides in a simplified way (through basic mathemati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics education 2020-03, Vol.55 (2), p.25002
Main Authors: Kontomaris, Stylianos-Vasileios, Malamou, Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
College Science
Concept Formation
Mathematical analysis
Misconceptions
Physics
Science Instruction
Scientific Concepts
Secondary School Science
Sine waves
Strings
Teaching Methods
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Summary:The concept of a sinusoidal wave traveling along a string is included in all secondary education physics books and as a result is being taught in undergraduate lectures around the globe. The didactic approach that follows is advantageous since it provides in a simplified way (through basic mathematical tools) a description of a disturbance that travels through some material or substance. However, in this paper two significant 'paradoxes' that arise when this model is used are presented. Thus, despite its significant value, it should be very carefully used by the instructors in order to prevent students' misconceptions.
ISSN:0031-9120
1361-6552
DOI:10.1088/1361-6552/ab51f6