The meanings of mass and E = mc2: an approach based on conceptual maps

Abstract In this work, we discuss transformations in the meaning of the concept of mass, which are important to physics teaching, by means of three conceptual schemes, which emphasize visual patterns of knowledge organization. We begin by discussing how the meaning of a physical concept is constructed, through its relations with others. In physical theories, these connections usually involve mathematical operations. We focus on the concept of mass and its changes in three different contexts, namely classical mechanics, electromagnetism and relativity. Modifications are displayed as shifts in i...