Identifying SMM on momentum and impulse using two tier diagnostic test

Abstract

Almost students have difficulties to understand the concept of momentum and impulse because the concept still considered abstract in physics. The aim of this research was to find students mental models of momentum and impulse. The participants of this research were eleven grade students of senior high school in Bandung. This sample have been selected from 30 students (17 boys and 13 girls, their age average 16 years old) in the one of senior high school at Bandung. The research method is a case study with descriptive quantitative analysis. The data analysis was carried in two stages, first identified student level of understanding and the second identified the student model of understanding. The diagnostic test utilized to find students mental models was two tier test in the form of open ended questions as many as 5 questions. The result shows that mental models of eleven grade students which have been identified in the three categories that are, Initial 62,6%, Synthetic 26,7%, and Scientific 10,7%. In conclusion, mental models of the scientific category is lower than other categories.