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Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts

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Baily_2015_PERC2015_Student_CCBY.pdf (2.259Mb)
Date
16/12/2016
Author
Baily, Charles
Bollen, Laurens
Pattie, Andrew
van Kampen, Paul
De Cock, Mieke
Keywords
Physics education research
LB2300 Higher Education
QC Physics
NDAS
Metadata
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Abstract
Undergraduate physics students are known to have difficulties with understanding mathematical tools, and with applying their knowledge of mathematics to physical contexts. Using survey statements based on student interviews and written responses to open-ended questions, we investigated the prevalence of correct and incorrect conceptions regarding the divergence and curl of vector fields, among both mathematics and physics students. We compare and contrast pre-instruction responses from intermediate-level E&M students at KU Leuven and the University of St Andrews, with post-instruction responses from St Andrews students enrolled in a vector calculus course. The differences between these student populations were primarily in areas having to do with physics-related concepts and graphical representations of vector fields. Our comparison of pre- and post-instruction responses from E&M students shows that their understanding of the divergence and curl improved significantly in most areas, though not as much as would be desired.
Citation
Baily , C , Bollen , L , Pattie , A , van Kampen , P & De Cock , M 2016 , Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts . in A D Churukian , D Jones & L Ding (eds) , 2015 Physics Education Research Conference . PER Conference series , American Association of Physics Teachers , pp. 51-54 , Physics Education Research Conference 2015 , College Park , United States , 29/07/15 . DOI: 10.1119/perc.2015.pr.008
 
conference
 
Publication
2015 Physics Education Research Conference
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/perc.2015.pr.008
ISSN
2377-2379
Type
Conference item
Rights
© 2015 American Association of Physics Teachers and the article authors. This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • Physics & Astronomy Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/8216
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~crb6/research/papers/Baily_PERC2015_STADCPMC.html

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