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Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts
written by Charles Baily, Laurens Bollen, Andrew Pattie, Paul van Kampen, and Mieke De Cock
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.
Physics Education Research Conference 2015
Part of the PER Conference series
College Park, MD: July 29-30, 2015
Pages 51-54
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
- Cognition
= Cognition Development
Mathematical Tools
- Vector Calculus
= Curl
= Divergence
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2015…
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.2015.pr.008
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
01.40.Di
Keywords:
PERC 2015, div
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created December 16, 2015 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
December 17, 2015 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 18, 2015
Other Collections:

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Record Link
AIP Format
C. Baily, L. Bollen, A. Pattie, P. van Kampen, and M. De Cock, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251).
AJP/PRST-PER
C. Baily, L. Bollen, A. Pattie, P. van Kampen, and M. De Cock, Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251>.
APA Format
Baily, C., Bollen, L., Pattie, A., van Kampen, P., & De Cock, M. (2015, July 29-30). Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251
Chicago Format
Baily, C, L. Bollen, A. Pattie, P. van Kampen, and M. De Cock. "Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251 (accessed 29 March 2024).
MLA Format
Baily, Charles, Laurens Bollen, Andrew Pattie, Paul van Kampen, and Mieke De Cock. "Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts." Physics Education Research Conference 2015. College Park, MD: 2015. 51-54 of PER Conference. 29 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Charles Baily and Laurens Bollen and Andrew Pattie and Paul van Kampen and Mieke De Cock", Title = {Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2015}, Pages = {51-54}, Address = {College Park, MD}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 29-30}, Year = {2015} }
Refer Export Format

%A Charles Baily %A Laurens Bollen %A Andrew Pattie %A Paul van Kampen %A Mieke De Cock %T Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts %S PER Conference %D July 29-30 2015 %P 51-54 %C College Park, MD %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Baily, Charles %A Bollen, Laurens %A Pattie, Andrew %A van Kampen, Paul %A De Cock, Mieke %D July 29-30 2015 %T Student thinking about the divergence and curl in mathematics and physics contexts %B Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %C College Park, MD %P 51-54 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13833&DocID=4251


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