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Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements
written by Benjamin P. Schermerhorn and John R. Thompson
As part of an effort to examine students' understanding of the structure of non-Cartesian coordinate systems and the differential vector elements associated with these systems, students in junior-level electricity and magnetism (E&M) were interviewed in pairs. Students constructed differential length and volume elements for an unconventional spherical coordinate system. A symbolic forms analysis found that students invoked known as well as novel symbolic forms when building these vector expressions. Further analysis suggests that student difficulties were primarily conceptual rather than symbolic.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series
Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016
Pages 312-315
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
Mathematical Tools
- Coordinate Systems
- Vector Calculus
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2016…
Access Rights:
Free access
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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.2016.pr.073
NSF Number:
1405726
Keyword:
PERC 2016
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created December 1, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
December 29, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 29, 2016
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AIP Format
B. Schermerhorn and J. Thompson, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611).
AJP/PRST-PER
B. Schermerhorn and J. Thompson, Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611>.
APA Format
Schermerhorn, B., & Thompson, J. (2016, July 20-21). Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611
Chicago Format
Schermerhorn, Benjamin P., and John Thompson. "Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611 (accessed 28 March 2024).
MLA Format
Schermerhorn, Benjamin P., and John Thompson. "Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 312-315 of PER Conference. 28 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Benjamin P. Schermerhorn and John Thompson", Title = {Students’ use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2016}, Pages = {312-315}, Address = {Sacramento, CA}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 20-21}, Year = {2016} }
Refer Export Format

%A Benjamin P. Schermerhorn %A John Thompson %T Students' use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements %S PER Conference %D July 20-21 2016 %P 312-315 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %O July 20-21 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Schermerhorn, Benjamin P. %A Thompson, John %D July 20-21 2016 %T Students' use of symbolic forms when constructing differential length elements %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 312-315 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14257&DocID=4611


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