Using momentum vector diagram to teach collision

Abstract

This study aims to enhance students' understanding and problem-solving skills of collisions. A teaching method called 'Momentum Vector Diagram (MVD) was developed to help students realize the concept of the vector quantity of momentum and to help them solve the collision problem correctly. The effectiveness of the MVD method was compared to the traditional teaching. The MVD was applied to the physics classes at 4 schools during the academic years 2014 to 2017 in the topic of momentum and collision. The pre-test and post-test were used to assess students understanding. The post-test results indicated that the students who studied with the MVD method had a higher average score than the students who studied with the traditional methods (2.42 ± 0.56 vs 1.55 ± 0.45). In the control group, it was found that the number of students who used the MVD method giving correct answer was more than the traditional method (74% vs 53%). In addition, it was found that the class averaged normalized gains <g> were at the low gain for the traditional method (<g> = 0.26) and at the high gain for the MVD (<g> = 0.74). It can be concluded that the MVD is more effective in enhancing high-school students problem solving skills in the topic of collision than traditional method.