Conceptest: Ozone umbrella analogy
This material is replicated on a number of sites
as part of the
SERC Pedagogic Service Project
Initial Publication Date: November 30, 2008
Question:
Which statement is the best analogy?
A. An umbrella is to rain as the stratosphere is to solar radiation.
B. An umbrella is to rain as the stratosphere is to ultraviolet radiation.
C. An umbrella is to rain as the ozone layer is to solar radiation.
D. An umbrella is to rain as the ozone layer is to ultraviolet radiation.
Student Responses:
These responses were collected from students (mostly freshmen, non-majors) in multiple large Earth Science classes (60+ students) at an open-enrollment, Midwestern university. N=147 students on first attempt; 157 after peer instruction.
A. 12% of students selected this answer on their 1st attempt; 4% after peer instruction.
B. 18% of students selected this answer on their 1st attempt; 5% after peer instruction.
C. 26% of students selected this answer on their 1st attempt; 11% after peer instruction.
D. 44% of students selected this answer on their 1st attempt; 80% after peer instruction.(correct)
