INVESTIGATION OF STUDENTS CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING ON THERMODYNAMICS FOR GRADE 12th STUDENTS OF LERA SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Abstract

This study investigated the conceptual understanding of thermodynamics of grade 12 students at Lera secondary and preparatory school. The aim is to investigate the students’ misconception about mechanical work and heat energy concepts. The study was conducted in the academic year of 2011E.Con a total of 40 students composed of 15 females and 25 males for conceptual understanding tests and 20 students composed of 14 males and 6 females for interview. The design of the research was a case study. The selection of samples was simple random sampling for the selection of the sampled students. The instruments of the study were conceptual test, classroom activities and interview. The internal reliability coefficient for the conceptual test was calculated to be 0.74. The result of the study revealed that there is high degree of misconception in thermodynamics in students. It was found that the frequency of the sample students score 75% less than 50% in the conceptual test. Physics teacher focuses on computational skills rather than conceptual understanding of students. Therefore students have lack of confidence to apply thermodynamics concepts on problem solving and thermodynamic processes. Based on the findings the implication and recommendation aremade.