• DOI:10.1119/1.1371254
Corpus ID: 8146369

Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames

@article{Scherr2001StudentUO,
  title={Student understanding of time in special relativity: Simultaneity and reference frames},
  author={Rachel E. Scherr and Peter S. Shaffer and S. Vokos},
  journal={American Journal of Physics},
  year={2001},
  volume={69}
}

• Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, S. Vokos
• Published 2001
• Computer Science, Physics
• American Journal of Physics

This article reports on an investigation of student understanding of the concept of time in special relativity. A series of research tasks are discussed that illustrate, step-by-step, how student reasoning of fundamental concepts of relativity was probed. The results indicate that after standard instruction students at all academic levels have serious difficulties with the relativity of simultaneity and with the role of observers in inertial reference frames. Evidence is presented that suggests… Expand

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