Turkish Student’s Perception about the Black Body Radiation, Photoelectric Effect and Compton Scattering Phenomena

Abstract

The goal of this study is to research Turkish student’s perception in the black body radiation, photoelectric effect and compton scattering phenomena. 26 11th grade students receiving education at a Turkish high school participated in the study. The black body radiation, photoelectric effect and compton scattering subjects were carried out throughout a 4 week period in 16 academic hours in accordance with the constructivist learning theory. 7 open-ended questions were applied as pre-study and post-study. This study is a descriptive research. Content analysis method was used in the study. While majority of students defined the black body as ‘a body that cools down the light falling upon it’ during the post-study, they gave examples of objects with black exterior and that these examples could not represent the black body radiation. Students could not identify the metal plates as anode and cathode in photocell circuit, so they could not predict the direction of current in photocell circuit correctly. Also, students had a misconception that light intensity is the light energy and, therefore, with the increase of light intensity, the kinetic energy of snatched electrons would increase and they would reach the plate faster.