Solar Radiation :
Misconceptions and Educational Research
Common misconceptions include:
- Sunlight is differen from other forms of light including “electric”, “ultraviolet”, and “radioactive”.
- The Sun only shines in visible light.
- The Sun sends "heat" or "heat rays" through space to warm the Earth.
Some research has been conducted on how students understand the light in general.
Guesne, E. (1985). Light. In R. Driver, E. Guesne, & A. Tiberghien (Eds.), Children's ideas in science (pp. 10-32). Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press. Fetherstonhaugh and Treagust (1992)
Watts, D.M. 1985. Students' conceptions of light-a case study. Physics Education 20: 183-187
Zylbersztajn, A. and Watts, D.m. (1982) Throwing Some Light on Colour Mimeograph, University of Surrey
Driver, R., A. Squires, P. Rushworth, and V. Wood-Robinson. 1994. Making sense of secondary science: Research into children’s ideas. London and New York: RoutledgeFalmer.
Anderson, C. and Smith E. (1986) Children's Conceptions of Light and Color: Understanding the Role of Unseen Rays. Research Series No. 166.
Eaton, J., Harding, T., and Anderson, C.W. (1985) Light: A teaching module. East Lansing, MI: Institute for Research on Teaching, Michigan State University.
