Open AccessIdentifying students’ difficulty in the basic of thermodynamics
Author(s) -
Maria Chandra Sutarja,
Ana Yuniasti Retno Wulandari
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/2126/1/012010
Subject(s) - argumentation theory , mathematics education , concept learning , process (computing) , ideal (ethics) , computer science , cognition , management science , psychology , epistemology , engineering , philosophy , neuroscience , operating system
Conceptual understanding is one of the main topics in physics educational research. It is important as the basic of other ability in education, such as argumentation, making scientific explanation and problem solving. This survey study aims to identify students’ difficulty to understand the basic of thermodynamics. There are 128 first year undergraduate students as the participants of the study. The data collection method is test. Result of the study shows that isobaric process of ideal gas and mechanical equilibrium state concepts are the most difficult concepts. Some difficulties are found in understanding the basic of thermodynamics: (1) because of the presence of higher cognitive load while solving conceptual problems, (2) when the question demands other ability, especially mathematical ability, to solve the conceptual problem, (3) because of students’ disability to integrate the knowledge. This study could be used to develop learning instruction or media in basic physics or introduction of thermodynamics course.