Sujito, Liliasari, Andi Suhandi, Edy Soewono
Mathematics and physics play an important role in students' learning; however, both are rarely intertwined when in fact mathematical models are crucial in understanding physics phenomena. The aim of the research is to investigate and analyse students' abilities in modeling physics phenomena and developing them using Matlab software. For this purpose, we took 53 pre-service physics teachers as respondents. They are given tests related to differential equations. Tests are conducted to express their opinion on the relationship between mathematics and physics and to describe their ability to construct mathematical models. The results showed that prospective physics teachers stated the role of mathematics in physics differently. They refer to different methods or steps for modeling physical phenomena. However, they had serious difficulties in forming a model. Therefore, to build a mathematical model, the modeling process must be handled as an object, and the teaching model must not contain the model as a tool. © School of Engineering, Taylor's University.
Program Studi Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No. 229, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia; FMIPA, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65141, Indonesia; Fakultas Matematika, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesa No. 10, Bandung, Indonesia
