Detail Page

Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems
written by Brian M. Stephanik and Peter S. Shaffer
The Physics Education Group at the University of Washington is examining the extent to which students are able to use graphs of potential energy vs. position to infer kinematic and dynamic quantities for a system. The findings indicate that many students have difficulty in relating the graphs to real-world systems. Some problems seem to be graphical in nature (e.g., interpreting graphs of potential energy vs. position as graphs of position vs. time). Others involve relating the graphs to total, kinetic, and potential energies, especially when the potential energy is negative. The results have implications beyond the introductory level since graphs of potential energy are used in advanced courses on classical and quantum mechanics.
Physics Education Research Conference 2011
Part of the PER Conference series
Omaha, Nebraska: August 3-4, 2011
Volume 1413, Pages 367-370
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Work and Energy
Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
- Lower Undergraduate
- Graduate/Professional
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- application/pdf
- non-digital
  • Currently 0.0/5

Want to rate this material?
Login here!


Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3680071
Access Rights:
Free access and
Available for purchase
A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2011 proceedings is available for purchase from the AIP.
Restriction:
© 2011 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.3680071
NSF Numbers:
0618185
1022449
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
45.20.dh
Keywords:
PERC 2011, potential energy, potential energy diagram, student understanding
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created April 26, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
May 15, 2012 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
February 6, 2012
Other Collections:

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
B. Stephanik and P. Shaffer, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735).
AJP/PRST-PER
B. Stephanik and P. Shaffer, Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735>.
APA Format
Stephanik, B., & Shaffer, P. (2011, August 3-4). Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735
Chicago Format
Stephanik, Brian, and Peter Shaffer. "Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735 (accessed 4 November 2024).
MLA Format
Stephanik, Brian, and Peter Shaffer. "Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems." Physics Education Research Conference 2011. Omaha, Nebraska: 2011. 367-370 Vol. 1413 of PER Conference. 4 Nov. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Brian Stephanik and Peter Shaffer", Title = {Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2011}, Pages = {367-370}, Address = {Omaha, Nebraska}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1413}, Month = {August 3-4}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%A Brian Stephanik %A Peter Shaffer %T Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems %S PER Conference %V 1413 %D August 3-4 2011 %P 367-370 %C Omaha, Nebraska %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %O August 3-4 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Stephanik, Brian %A Shaffer, Peter %D August 3-4 2011 %T Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems %B Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %C Omaha, Nebraska %V 1413 %P 367-370 %S PER Conference %8 August 3-4 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11888&DocID=2735


Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

This resource is stored in a shared folder.

You must login to access shared folders.

Examining student ability to interpret and use potential energy diagrams for classical systems:


Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it.
Save to my folders

Supplements

Contribute

Related Materials

Similar Materials