  Analyses of interviews with secondary school students about their conceptions
of light at the University of Potsdam indicate that numerous students have a
deterministic view of light. With regard to these results the model of energy
flow lines, which has been discussed recently in the didactical literature, is
of special interest. Following this model, light is presumed to move along
energy flow lines as trajectories. In an analysis of the model of energy flow
lines four didactical dimensions (didactical content, internal structure,
present-day relevance and future significance) are investigated. It can be
shown that a discussion of this model in physics at school can increase the
meta-conceptional knowledge of the students about the models of light. On the
other hand, this can promote deterministic conceptions and the Bohm
interpretation of quantum mechanics. But the question remains: Should the
nature of light really be described as deterministic?
