CTS Guide: Relationship Between Energy and Forces, pp. 188-189- Section IV Research Summaries

Energy and Forces

• Kruger, Palacio, and Summers (1992) examined energy conceptions held by preservice teachers and found they have ideas similar to those held by elementary and secondary students, especially associating energy with force, motion, and living things; not recognizing the relationship between position and energy; failing to conserve energy; and perceiving energy as a substance. Trumper (1997) surveyed secondary preservice biology teachers and had similar findings.

• Many students use energy and force synonymously and some think there needs to be movement for energy to be present. Researchers also found confusion among the words energy, force, friction, work, and gravity, especially in the elementary grades (Gilbert and Pope 1986).