Similar Frameworks of Action-at-a-Distance: Early Scientists' and Pupils' Ideas

Pupils' concepts regarding various types of action-at-a-distance were studied. It was found that often these perceptions related to an underlying framework of presumptions: Earth is unique, a conducting medium is needed, support is needed. These misconceptions have their analogies in the history of science; pupils' difficulties reflect those encountered by earlier scientists. These analogies, which are characterized by using concrete realizations for abstract physical concepts, are relevant to the educational researcher, the science teacher and the pupil.