Addressing student difficulties with concepts related to entropy, heat engines and the Carnot cycle

Trevor I. Smith, Warren M. Christensen, John R. Thompson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the rationale behind and preliminary results from a guided-inquiry conceptual worksheet (a.k.a. tutorial) dealing with Carnot's efficiency and the Carnot cycle. The tutorial was administered in an upper-level thermodynamics course at the University of Maine. The tutorial was implemented as the third in a three-tutorial sequence designed to improve students' understanding of entropy and its applications. Initial pre- and post-tutorial assessment data suggest that student understanding of heat engines and the Carnot cycle improved as a result of tutorial instruction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2009 Physics Education Research Conference, PER
Pages277-280
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event2009 Physics Education Research Conference, PER: Physics Education Research across Paradigms - Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Duration: Jul 29 2009Jul 30 2009

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1179
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

Other2009 Physics Education Research Conference, PER: Physics Education Research across Paradigms
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAnn Arbor, MI
Period7/29/097/30/09

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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