A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas gives the concept of field energy a prominent role in the physical sciences sections of its recommendations for K-12 science education. I examine what A Framework suggests for the role of field energy and point out that, given the ambiguities and complexities associated with field energy, a traditional approach focusing on potential energy is more appropriate for introductory physics in secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
REFERENCES
1.
National Research Council
, A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas
(National Academies Press
, Washington, DC
, 2012
).2.
See www.ngss.org for details of the Science Standards and the role of A Framework.
3.
H.
Poincaré
, “Sur la dynamique de l'électron
,” Comp. Ren. Acad. Sci. Paris
140
, 1504
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(1905
). An English translation is available online at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:On_the_Dynamics_of_the_Electron_%28July%29. The original French version is available online at http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Sur_la_dynamique_de_l%E2%80%99%C3%A9lectron_%28juillet%29.4.
David J.
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R. P.
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, R. B.
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Calculations in quantum electrodynamics in a sense include electromagnetic field energy, but the interesting dynamics are accounted for by local interactions between the electromagnetic field and charged particle currents. Field energy is taken into account in terms of the energy of the photons (field quanta) that mediate the interactions between the charged particles.
7.
Steven
Weinberg
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(Cambridge U.P.
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Anthony
Duncan
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, 2009
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The term “potential energy” is a historical relic from the 19th century when scientists talked about “real” energy (what we would now call kinetic energy) and “potential” energy (energy associated with the configuration of the objects in a system), which might be converted to real energy. See, for example, Eugene Hecht, “An Historico-Critical Account of Potential Energy: Is PE Really Real,” Phys. Teach. 41, 486–493 (2003). Many science educators have advocated using “configuration energy” (or an equivalent term) in place of potential energy, but the term “potential” seems to be firmly embedded in the physical science and engineering literature.
13.
We ignore the dissipative effects due to currents induced in the magnetic materials and the carts due to the changing magnetic fields experienced during the collision.
14.
In general relativity, field energy is not an option; it is required because the field energy (for all kinds of fields) is a source of space-time curvature, just as matter is. Magnetic field energy is also crucial in plasma physics. See, for example, <http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SolarWind.html>.
15.
Edward M.
Purcell
and David J.
Morin
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, 3rd ed. (Cambridge U.P.
, Cambridge
, 2013
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David J.
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and Russell E.
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L. H.
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and T. A.
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This treatment ignores rotational and vibrational motion.
19.
Melanie
Cooper
and Michael W.
Klymkowsky
, “The Trouble with Chemical Energy: Why Understanding Energies Requires an Interdisciplinary Systems Approach
,” CBE Life Sci. Educ.
12
, 306
–312
(2013
).20.
In fact, it took several decades of difficult theoretical work to prove that quantum mechanics is sufficient to prove the stability of matter. See, for example,
Elliott H.
Lieb
and Robert
Seiringer
, Stability of Matter in Quantum Mechanics
(Cambridge U.P.
, Cambridge
, 2010
).© 2014 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2014
American Association of Physics Teachers
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