![]()
We discuss the categorization of 20 quantum mechanics problems by physics professors and undergraduate students from two honours-level quantum mechanics courses. Professors and students were asked to categorize the problems based upon similarity of solution. We also had individual discussions with professors who categorized the problems. Faculty members' categorizations were overall rated higher than those of students by three faculty members who evaluated all of the categorizations. The categories created by faculty members were more diverse compared to the categories they created for a set of introductory mechanics problems. Some faculty members noted that the categorization of introductory physics problems often involves identifying fundamental principles relevant for the problem, whereas in upper-level undergraduate quantum mechanics problems, it mainly involves identifying concepts and procedures required to solve the problem. Moreover, physics faculty members who evaluated others' categorizations expressed that the task was very challenging and they sometimes found another person's categorization to be better than their own. They also rated some concrete categories such as 'hydrogen atom' or 'simple harmonic oscillator' higher than other concrete categories such as 'infinite square well' or 'free particle'.
European Journal of Physics: Volume 31, Issue 1, Pages 57-68
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=12232">Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students." Eur. J. Phys. 31, no. 1, (January 1, 2010): 57-68.</a>
![]() S. Lin and C. Singh, , Eur. J. Phys. 31 (1), 57 (2010), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006).
![]() S. Lin and C. Singh, Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students, Eur. J. Phys. 31 (1), 57 (2010), <https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006>.
![]() Lin, S., & Singh, C. (2010, January 1). Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students. Eur. J. Phys., 31(1), 57-68. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006
![]() Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students." Eur. J. Phys. 31, no. 1, (January 1, 2010): 57-68, https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006 (accessed 1 May 2025).
![]() Lin, Shih-Yin, and Chandralekha Singh. "Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students." Eur. J. Phys. 31.1 (2010): 57-68. 1 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Shih-Yin Lin and Chandralekha Singh",
Title = {Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students},
Journal = {Eur. J. Phys.},
Volume = {31},
Number = {1},
Pages = {57-68},
Month = {January},
Year = {2010}
}
![]() %A Shih-Yin Lin %A Chandralekha Singh %T Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students %J Eur. J. Phys. %V 31 %N 1 %D January 1, 2010 %P 57-68 %U https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Lin, Shih-Yin %A Singh, Chandralekha %D January 1, 2010 %T Categorization of quantum mechanics problems by professors and students %J Eur. J. Phys. %V 31 %N 1 %P 57-68 %8 January 1, 2010 %U https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/006 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. |
ContributeSimilar Materials |