Readiness and misconceptions of high school students in learning of the buoyancy of liquids

It is purposed in this study that determining readiness level and misconceptions (if the students have or not) in the learning process of buoyant force of liquids which requires basic Physics concepts for 10th grade students. For this purpose, open-ended questions which contain basic concepts have been asked to 162 10th grade students who attend high school in the city center of Samsun. Obtained datas are categorized and evaluated considering comprenehsion level scale (5 point likert scale) created by Abraham and et. al. (1994). As a result of evaluations it has been determined that readiness levels of students are not adequate, existing lack of knowledge about some basic concepts and significantly misconceptions. It has been concluded that it is difficult to learn a new subject without resolving the lack of knowledge.