PERC 2010 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Curriculum Development Addressing Multiplicity, Probability and Density of States in Statistical Physics |
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| Abstract: | In research on teaching and learning in upper-division statistical physics, we created a guided-inquiry activity (tutorial) addressing the discrete binomial distribution and its approximation by the continuous normal distribution. The curriculum emphasizes the distribution dependence on N, the number of binary trials, making extensive use of computational software with graphical displays, allowing N to span more than six orders of magnitude. These activities provide excellent motivation for examining the increasing density of states toward the limit where integration of a continuous density function is required. Thus, we have an ideal opportunity for students to engage the summation to integration transition of integral calculus. The tutorial and a revised version were implemented during the past two years. Findings include improvement in recognition that the distributions become increasingly narrowed about the mean with increasing N. However, significant confusion remains between microstates and macrostates and their roles in determining probability. * Support: NSF |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Donald B. Mountcastle University of Maine Department of Physics and Astronomy 5709 Bennett Hall Orono, ME 04469-5709 Phone: 207-581-1039 Fax: 207-581-3410 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
John R. Thompson Department of Physics and Astronomy Maine Center for Research in STEM Education University of Maine |
