Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Examining the psychometric functionality of the force concept inventory(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2020) Eaton, Philip Dale; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Shannon Willoughby; Keith Johnson and Shannon Willoughby were co-authors of the article, 'Generating a growth-oriented partial credit grading model for the force concept inventory' in the journal 'Physical review physics education research' which is contained within this dissertation.; Barrett Frank and Shannon Willoughby were co-authors of the article, 'Examining the effects of item chaining in the force concept inventory and the force and motion conceptual evaluation using local item dependence' submitted to the journal 'Physical review physics education research' which is contained within this dissertation.; Shannon Willoughby was a co-author of the article, 'Confirmatory factor analysis applied to the force concept inventory' in the journal 'Physical review physics education' which is contained within this dissertation.; Shannon Willoughby was a co-author of the article, 'Identifying a preinstruction to postinstruction model for the force concept inventory within a multitrait item response theory framework' in the journal 'Physical review physics education' which is contained within this paper.To improve the current understanding of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI), both a response-option-level analysis and a dimensionality analysis were proposed and applied. The response-option-level analysis used polytomous item response theory to reveal that the response options on the FCI are generally functioning appropriately, with two questions being identified as likely malfunctioning. To address the question of the FCI's dimensionality, an analysis of local item independence using item response theory was proposed and performed. Results indicate that the FCI is a multi-factor instrument, not a unidimensional instrument as it is often assumed. As a result of this analysis, three factor models were proposed and tested using confirmatory factor analysis and confirmatory multi-trait item response theory. All of these models were found to adequately explain the factor structure of the FCI within each of the statistical frameworks. The results from these investigations can be used as a starting point for further analysis and directing future improvements of the FCI.Item Perceptual interference(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2019) Willard, Alyssa Riann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jim ZimpelWhen I explore my surroundings, I often wonder about what we can never truly know. My studio practice serves as an outlet for my questions, and I expect it to generate more questions than answers. I have questions about origins, the unknown future, and the interactions between matter and energy. In conjunction with this written thesis I created works that will be displayed as my MFA thesis show in the Helen E. Copeland Gallery. These works are responses to my research into various energy forces, which stems from my collaborations with Montana State University's Physics Department. My primary interest this year has been electromagnetism which is the study of the interactions between electricity, magnetism and light. But I am also interested in how electromagnetism connects to other forces such as gravity and sound, and how these various systems follow patterns that are very similar to fractal patterns found in nature. There is a lack of knowledge when it comes to what connects various forces to others, which stimulates my interest in the interactions between them. My current questions have led me to the conclusion that invisible forces connect and influence all things.Item Energy and work instructional strategies in general physics(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2018) Tschanz, Chad M.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg FrancisIntroductory physics students have demonstrated unsatisfactory learning gains after traditional energy instruction. Energy instruction was adapted to include pictorial system diagrams, energy bar graphs, and interactive physical modeling. Learning gains of students who received adapted instruction was compared to students who received traditional instruction. Students who participated in the adapted instruction showed slightly greater gains in interpretation of lab data compared to those students who received traditional instruction. There was no significant difference in gains noticed on traditional assessments of work and energy concepts. No significant differences in preference for student-led interactive physical modeling over traditional instruction was found.Item Micromechanical analysis of energy expenditure in snow fracture(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2017) LeBaron, Anthony Michael; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Daniel MillerA microstructure-based evaluation of snow combining experimental and analytical approaches was performed. Shear tests were performed on both homogeneous and layered samples of un-notched snow. Force and displacement during loading were recorded. Immediately after testing, small subsamples of snow were subjected to micro-CT scanning to capture 3D microstructure details. Microstructure was then modeled as a grain-bond network. The grain-bond network was subject to minimum energy fracture path calculations as well as discrete element modeling. The discrete element model showed good agreement with experiments. Taken together, results from models and experiments show a widespread damage accumulation process in snow. A large fracture process zone (FPZ) is observed, even in samples with weak layers. Evidence indicates that even in snow avalanches, there is likely significant energy dissipation within the slab.Item Entropy and Architecture : entropic phenomena actuating dynamic space(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2008) Bernier, Jobe Paul; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: John Brittingham; Christopher Livingston (co-chair)Accepting the second law of thermodynamics indicates that any energy source is not infinite. At the event fossil fuel reserves in Alaska are depleted, the massive infrastructure supporting fossil fuel extraction-including 800 miles of pipeline-is assumed to be obsolete. This thesis endeavors to acknowledge the Pipeline's relationship to energy transfer and create a future plan of adaptive reuse. This thesis exposes processes of energy transfer or entropy. It acknowledges environmental entropy and utilizes observable phenomena of global warming within Alaska. It argues that since physical systems are universally subject to entropy, and ideal systems are connected to physical systems, ideal systems are as subject to entropy as physical systems. The exposé of these entropic values occur in a design of an experiential space at the southern most marine terminal of the existing system. It demonstrates the experience of social entropy through spatial configurations affecting communication; it informs a hidden nature of fuel as commodity. Additionally, it exposes environmental entropy by connecting dynamic spatial changes in Valdez to measurable triggers along the Pipeline's corridor.