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The Role of Models and Analogies in the Electromagnetic Theory: A Historical Case Study

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Abstract

Despite its great importance, many students and even their teachers still cannot recognize the relevance of models to build up physical knowledge and are unable to develop qualitative explanations for mathematical expressions that exist within physics. Thus, it is not a surprise that analogies play an important role in science education, since students’ construction of mental models of abstract phenomena need to be rooted in some existing or previous experience in order to interpret more complex ideas. The present article focuses on some of these issues by analyzing some specific instances of the historical development of the electromagnetic theory. Using the mental models framework, the importance of mechanical analogies to understand some of the electromagnetic concepts are emphasized.

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Acknowledgements

I appreciate the reviewers’ comments and recommendations. I wish to thank Roberto de Andrade Martins and Maurício Pietrocola who provided stimulating discussions. I am also thankful to The State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation and to The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.

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  1. Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, SP, 13565-590, Brazil

    Cibelle Celestino Silva

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Correspondence to Cibelle Celestino Silva.

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Silva, C.C. The Role of Models and Analogies in the Electromagnetic Theory: A Historical Case Study. Sci & Educ 16, 835–848 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-006-9008-z

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