We have developed a curriculum on the photoelectric effect including an interactive computer simulation, interactive lectures with peer instruction, and conceptual and mathematical homework problems. Our curriculum addresses established student difficulties and is designed so that students will be able to (1) correctly predict the results of experiments on the photoelectric effect and (2) describe how these results lead to the photon model of light. Our instruction leads to better student mastery of the first goal than either traditional instruction or previous reformed instruction, with approximately 85% of students correctly predicting the results of changes to the experimental conditions. Most students are able to correctly state the observations made in the photoelectric effect experiment and the inferences that can be made from these observations, but are less successful drawing a clear logical connection between the observations and the inferences.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 2009
PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH|
January 01 2009
A research-based curriculum for teaching the photoelectric effect
S. B. McKagan;
S. B. McKagan
JILA,
University of Colorado and NIST
, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Search for other works by this author on:
W. Handley;
W. Handley
Department of Physics,
University of Colorado
, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Search for other works by this author on:
K. K. Perkins;
K. K. Perkins
Department of Physics,
University of Colorado
, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Search for other works by this author on:
C. E. Wieman
C. E. Wieman
Department of Physics,
University of British Columbia
, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada; JILA, University of Colorado and NIST
, Boulder, Colorado 80309, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado
, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Search for other works by this author on:
Am. J. Phys. 77, 87–94 (2009)
Article history
Received:
May 16 2007
Accepted:
August 15 2008
Citation
S. B. McKagan, W. Handley, K. K. Perkins, C. E. Wieman; A research-based curriculum for teaching the photoelectric effect. Am. J. Phys. 1 January 2009; 77 (1): 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2978181
Download citation file:
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Citing articles via
A simple model of a gravitational lens from geometric optics
Bogdan Szafraniec, James F. Harford
Playing with active matter
Angelo Barona Balda, Aykut Argun, et al.
The physics of “everesting” on a bicycle
Martin Bier
The hardest-hit home run?
Donald C. Warren
Related Content
The implications of a robust curriculum in introductory mechanics
Am. J. Phys. (May 2011)
A study of pre- and inservice physics teachers’ understanding of photoelectric phenomenon as part of the development of a research-based quantum physics course
Am. J. Phys. (July 2009)
Toward Understanding Student Conceptions of the Photoelectric Effect
AIP Conference Proceedings (September 2004)
An empirical study of the effect of granting multiple tries for online homework
Am. J. Phys. (July 2015)