Re: Misconceptions assessments?

[Robert A Cohen <bbq@ESU.EDU>]

On Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Rondo JEFFERY wrote:

> [snip]
> A better wording would be "A. Yes, within a few percent..."
> Then the other answers would give an indication of what "much closer"
> means, like 10% or more.

Thank you for the better wording.

> [snip]
> And, in fact, none of the answers
> actually gives *the* "main" reason for the seasons.  The principal cause
> of the seasons is the tilt of the earth's axis in space.

I was attempting, albeit poorly, to force people to provide an explanation
for why the tilt of the earth's axis in space is responsible for the
seasons.  I've run across several people who state confidently that the
cause is the tilt but cannot explain why (or explain that the tilt causes
the hemisphere to be further in winter than in summer).

>  Effects
> resulting from the tilt are things like answers C, D, and E, but also
> include fewer hours of daylight each day in winter.  So, any of these
> answers could be considered as *partially* correct.  (And students who
> pick them would argue strongly for them! :-)  )

Yes, others are partially correct.  Any suggestions for how to rewrite the
question?

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| Robert Cohen               Department of Physics       |
|                            East Stroudsburg University |
| bbq@esu.edu                East Stroudsburg, PA  18301 |
| http://www.esu.edu/~bbq/   (570) 422-3428              |
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