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University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time
written by Marisa Michelini and Giacomo Zuccarini
Learning quantum mechanics entails adopting a new reference frame for the physical interpretation of the world. The quantum perspective is intrinsically connected with math, which becomes a sort of referent for physical meaning, requiring the employment of new formal structures and a new interpretation of familiar ones. Research evidences that students have difficulty both with concepts and with the use of formalism in qualitative tasks. We administered a 15-item questionnaire focused on incompatibility of observables and related formal structures to 40 physics students of three Italian universities. Semi-structured interviews were scheduled on a subset of students. Results concerning translation processes between math and physical meaning show that most students only look at the square modulus in order to reason on physical information encoded in quantum state, thus neglecting phase relations and their connection with incompatibility.
Physics Education Research Conference 2014
Part of the PER Conference series
Minneapolis, MN: July 30-31, 2014
Pages 187-190
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Practices
- Pedagogy
= Instructional Issues
Quantum Physics
- Foundations and Measurements
= Uncertainty Principles
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2014…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:
American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/perc.2014.pr.043
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
03.65.-w
03.65.Ca
Keywords:
PERC 2014, incompatible observables, physics education, quantum mechanics, student understanding
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created April 24, 2015 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
April 27, 2015 by Bruce Mason
Last Update
when Cataloged:
April 28, 2015
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AIP Format
M. Michelini and G. Zuccarini, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, 2014, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Michelini and G. Zuccarini, University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, 2014, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078>.
APA Format
Michelini, M., & Zuccarini, G. (2014, July 30-31). University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078
Chicago Format
Michelini, Marisa, and Giacomo Zuccarini. "University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2014, Minneapolis, MN, July 30-31, 2014. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078 (accessed 26 April 2024).
MLA Format
Michelini, Marisa, and Giacomo Zuccarini. "University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time." Physics Education Research Conference 2014. Minneapolis, MN: 2014. 187-190 of PER Conference. 26 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Marisa Michelini and Giacomo Zuccarini", Title = {University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2014}, Pages = {187-190}, Address = {Minneapolis, MN}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 30-31}, Year = {2014} }
Refer Export Format

%A Marisa Michelini %A Giacomo Zuccarini %T University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time %S PER Conference %D July 30-31 2014 %P 187-190 %C Minneapolis, MN %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2014 %O July 30-31 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Michelini, Marisa %A Zuccarini, Giacomo %D July 30-31 2014 %T University students' reasoning on physical information encoded in quantum state at a point in time %B Physics Education Research Conference 2014 %C Minneapolis, MN %P 187-190 %S PER Conference %8 July 30-31 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13479&DocID=4078


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