Potential Adverse Effects of Insufficient Explanation of Greenhouse Gases in Science Education on Fire Safety Education

Abstract

In the international science education community, due to the insufficient understanding of combustion processes, the fire triangle (fuel, oxygen, and heat) has been utilized in a way that distorts the view of science. It is necessary to revise the interpretation of the fire triangle from an absolute theory based solely on three elements to representing just some of the necessary conditions for combustion, and to supplement it with physical and chemical “processes” undescribed in the fire triangle. To promote fire safety science education in elementary and secondary school, this study explored methods to utilize the commonalities between fire and meteorological phenomena. Specifically, to help students understand how water vapor and carbon dioxide can cool fire, a survey was conducted on learning content related to the greenhouse effect. The survey revealed that greenhouse gases were insufficiently explained in science education, causing potential adverse effects on fire safety education.