Images of atoms in physics textbooks for lower secondary schools vs. misconceptions of pupils about atoms

Abstract

Atom is a concept that students meet with in both physics and chemistry. The difficulty of the explication of this concept is that it is a highly abstract construct; the atom can not be perceived by the human senses and can not be seen by means of simple instruments. Teachers use different, more or less suitable models, analogies and metaphors during the interpreting of this concept (e.g. electron cloud, „fuzzy“ electron, atomic nucleus, etc.). However, pupils often create their own models in their minds and their ideas may differ considerably from the idea of the atom that their teachers have. In this respect, textbooks also play an important role, but in various physics textbooks there are presented different models of atoms. In the paper, we present the most common models of atoms used in physics textbooks for lower secondary schools in the Czech Republic and show their possible influence on the formation or the strengthening of some pupils’ misconceptions. The frequency of these misconceptions is exemplified by a study we carried out in the Czech Republic, involving a set of 170 of 15-year-old pupils from seven lower secondary schools. All participants of this study were quizzed on their understanding of the concept of an atom using a one-tier diagnostic test which included some of the most common misconceptions about atoms that have been identified in foreign education research.