Some D.C. Misconceptions

  1. See no connection between static and current electricity.
  2. Do not think that electric fields have anything to do with current electricity.
  3. Do not understand the concept of complete circuit. Think that only one wire is needed for bulbs, etc.
  4. Think that charge is stored in battery or in power plant.
  5. Think that charge gets "used up".
  6. Think that an ammeter will measure differently depending whether it is "before" or "after" a resistor, motor, bulb, etc.
  7. Think that voltage is an intrinsic characteristic of an object.
  8. Think that voltage and current are the same idea.
  9. Think that adding resistors always increases the total resistance.
  10. Do not understand the difference in size of batteries of same voltage.
  11. Do not understand that a wire across an element causes all the current to go through the wire (short).
  12. Think that only electrons move, or conversely, that both positive and negative charges move in wires.
  13. Think that resistance is constant in all objects.
  14. Think that a capacitor and battery work the same.
  15. Think that only high voltage is dangerous, that the current doesn't matter.
  16. Think that LEDs are just regular bulbs or that they are lasers.

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See Arnold Arons, A Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching and Mel Steinberg's work for CASTLE project.