Students’ conceptual understanding level in momentum and impulse: Based on resource theory

This study aims to identify the level of understanding and resources that students activate. This research is a type of descriptive research. The study used a survey method by distributing 9 multiple-choice questions. The focus of the study is the topic of momentum-impulse. The research was conducted on 72 physics students who had taken the Fundamental of Physics I course. Data analysis was carried out by determining descriptive statistics and categorising students’ level of understanding based on the reasons given. The level of concept understanding includes Sound Understanding (SU), Partial Understanding (PU), Partial Understanding with Specific Misconceptions (PUSM), Specific Misconceptions (SM), and Not Understanding (NU). Based on the analysis of the research results, the average score of students’ conceptual understanding was 49.38. Furthermore, the average levels of understanding are 12.12% for Sound Understanding, 17.75% for Partial Understanding, 25.77% for Partial Understanding with Specific Misconceptions, 28.86% for Specific Misconceptions, and 14.51% for Not Understanding. The most misconceptions experienced by students are determining the largest momentum change from the F(t) graph. When students determine the largest momentum change from graph F(t), the resource activated is ’momentum will change when the force changes’.