Abstract:

Recent studies in science education area focus on the children’s concrete ideas of science and their understandings of science concepts that different then sci- entists’ ideas and understandings. In order to investigate students understanding of science concepts of velocity, speed, acceleration, displacement, and distance this study was design and implemented among freshmen students who took introductory physics class in Atatürk University at 2005-2006 academic year. There were total of 157 students participated in this study. In order to minimize measurement error two and three stage questions were designed and used. Students’ responses to questions were analyzed and grouped. Results reported with table in this study demonstrate grouped students responses and their percentages. Results indicated that students had difficulties to understand velocity, speed, acceleration, displacement, and dis- tance concepts and hold numerous misconceptions/ alternative conceptions about them. Results were discussed in details.

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