What’s mathematics doing here? The role of mathematics in German Physics Olympiad tasks

Artigo2023

Eva Treiber; Eva Treiber; Irene Neumann; Aiso Heinze

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Resumo

Physics competitions target at motivating students for engaging in physics and at promoting students talented in physics. Physics competitions also aim at conveying a picture of physics as a scientific discipline, going beyond regular physics classes in school, and should thus also include a more intense mathematization of physics problems. Given that physics students often struggle with mathematics, mathematics in the competition may pose a challenge beyond the intended physics challenge. The present paper therefore presents an analysis of theoretical tasks employed in the German Physics Olympiad. Mathematical requirements were (1) identified by analyzing sample solutions and (2) compared to mathematics curricula. Then, (3) the solutions were categorized regarding whether the mathematics employed was used in a tool-like manner, a structuring manner, or both. Findings indicate that the first competition round typically includes rather basic mathematical requirements which are addressed in lower secondary mathematics education. In the higher rounds, more advanced mathematics is needed, which is only taught in the last years of high school, or not taught at all. The structural role of mathematics proved to be essential in the analyzed tasks. Beside the (intended) physics challenges, participants thus have to deal with mathematics they have not learned at school and have to apply mathematics in a different way than is often done at school when participating in the competition. As a consequence, unintended negative effects may occur, potentially counteracting the aim to promote students talented in physics. Implications for science education and future research are discussed.

Dados da obra

Tipo: Artigo
Periódico: Frontiers in Education, v. 8
Editora: Frontiers Media S.A.
Ano: 2023 (2023-06)
Idioma: en
Palavras-chave: competitions; mathematics education; physics education; Physics Olympiad; talented students; task analysis
DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1196189
ISSN: 2504-284X
Acesso: Acesso aberto
Fontes: DOAJ — Directory of Open Access Journals
Na Biblioteca desde: 01/10/2026 · verificada em 03/10/2026

Como citar

ABNT
TREIBER, Eva et al.. What’s mathematics doing here? The role of mathematics in German Physics Olympiad tasks. Frontiers in Education, v. 8, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1196189.

APA

Treiber, E., Treiber, E., Neumann, I., & Heinze, A. (2023). What’s mathematics doing here? The role of mathematics in German Physics Olympiad tasks. Frontiers in Education, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1196189

BibTeX

@article{treiber2023,
  author = {Treiber, Eva and Treiber, Eva and Neumann, Irene and Heinze, Aiso},
  title = {What’s mathematics doing here? The role of mathematics in German Physics Olympiad tasks},
  year = {2023},
  journal = {Frontiers in Education},
  volume = {8},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.},
  doi = {10.3389/feduc.2023.1196189},
  language = {en}
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Treiber, Eva
AU  - Treiber, Eva
AU  - Neumann, Irene
AU  - Heinze, Aiso
TI  - What’s mathematics doing here? The role of mathematics in German Physics Olympiad tasks
PY  - 2023
JO  - Frontiers in Education
VL  - 8
DO  - 10.3389/feduc.2023.1196189
LA  - en
ER  -

Referência gerada automaticamente a partir dos metadados das fontes; confira com o documento original. Baixar BibTeX · Baixar RIS