The car catalyst–students’ misconceptions and how to challenge them

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find out what students already know about the car catalyst in order to design a module to pass on the scientific mental model to them. Therefore a questionnaire was given to students in 9th, 10th and 11th grade pupils. Questions referred to what happens inside a catalyst with the incoming gases. The misconception of a filter or a further combustion engine could be localized. According to the students the catalyst is equipped with netting which slices the molecules. According to the misconceptions received a topic was designed to overcome and cure these concepts and to clarify and give the pupils a valid picture of what happens inside the catalyst. In a post-test results are discussed