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Mathematics in Physics Education pp 293–316Cite as

A Case Study of the Role of Mathematics in Physics Textbooks and in Associated Lessons

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Abstract

This chapter describes a case study of the role of mathematics in physics textbooks and in associated teacher-led lessons. The theoretical framework (Hansson L, Hansson Ö, Juter K, Redfors A. Sci Edu 24:615–644, 2015) used in the analysis focuses on relations communicated between three entities: Theoretical models, Mathematics and Reality. Previously the framework has been used for analysing classroom situations. In this chapter, the framework is further developed and refined and for the first time used to analyse physics textbooks. The case study described here is a synchronised analysis of a physics textbook and associated classroom communication during teacher-led lessons and contributes with an in-depth description of relations made between Theoretical models, Mathematics and Reality. With the starting point in this case, we discuss future uses of the analysis framework. We also raise questions for further research concerning how physics textbooks support and not support a meaningful physics teaching with respect to the role of mathematics and how relations between Theoretical models, Mathematics and Reality are communicated.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Gottfridsson, D, Jonasson, U, & Lindfors, T. Nexus – Fysik A & B, Malmö: Gleerups.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support of Swedish Research Council (2015-01643) and the efforts of the GIREP organisation and of Gesche Pospiech as the editor of this book.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden

    Lena Hansson, Örjan Hansson, Kristina Juter & Andreas Redfors

Authors
  1. Lena Hansson
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  2. Örjan Hansson
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  3. Kristina Juter
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  4. Andreas Redfors
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Redfors .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Gesche Pospiech

  2. DCFA - Section of Mathematics and Physics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Marisa Michelini

  3. The Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel

    Bat-Sheva Eylon

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Hansson, L., Hansson, Ö., Juter, K., Redfors, A. (2019). A Case Study of the Role of Mathematics in Physics Textbooks and in Associated Lessons. In: Pospiech, G., Michelini, M., Eylon, BS. (eds) Mathematics in Physics Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04627-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04627-9_13

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04627-9

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