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The Physics Teacher
written by Mario Belloni, Wolfgang Christian, and Anne Cox
More than 35 years ago, French and Taylor1 outlined an approach to teach students and teachers alike how to understand "qualitative plots of bound-state wave functions." They described five fundamental statements based on the quantum-mechanical concepts of probability and energy (total and potential), which could be used to deduce the shape of energy eigenfunctions. Despite these important and easy-to-follow statements, this approach has not been universally adopted in the teaching of quantum mechanics.2 For example, recent studies have shown that students' conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics on all levels is surprisingly lacking3 and that misconceptions are universal,4 including that of the relationship between the potential energy function and the resulting energy eigenfunction shape. At the same time, the teaching of quantum mechanical concepts in introductory physics has become increasingly important given the modern technological applications that are based on quantum theory (e.g., PET scans and MRIs). However, most treatments of quantum theory on the introductory level are cursory at best, leaving students with the impression that quantum mechanics is little more than abstract mathematics (a belief that remains with students in their future courses).
The Physics Teacher: Volume 45, Issue 8, Pages 488-491
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Quantum Physics
- Bound State Systems
- Probability, Waves, and Interference
- Upper Undergraduate
- Graduate/Professional
- Reference Material
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© 2007 American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/1.2798360
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 28, 2019 by Bruce Mason
Record Updated:
May 28, 2019 by Bruce Mason
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when Cataloged:
November 1, 2007
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AIP Format
M. Belloni, W. Christian, and A. Cox, , Phys. Teach. 45 (8), 488 (2007), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Belloni, W. Christian, and A. Cox, Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets, Phys. Teach. 45 (8), 488 (2007), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360>.
APA Format
Belloni, M., Christian, W., & Cox, A. (2007, November 1). Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets. Phys. Teach., 45(8), 488-491. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360
Chicago Format
Belloni, M, W. Christian, and A. Cox. "Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets." Phys. Teach. 45, no. 8, (November 1, 2007): 488-491, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360 (accessed 3 May 2024).
MLA Format
Belloni, Mario, Wolfgang Christian, and Anne Cox. "Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets." Phys. Teach. 45.8 (2007): 488-491. 3 May 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Mario Belloni and Wolfgang Christian and Anne Cox", Title = {Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets}, Journal = {Phys. Teach.}, Volume = {45}, Number = {8}, Pages = {488-491}, Month = {November}, Year = {2007} }
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%A Mario Belloni %A Wolfgang Christian %A Anne Cox %T Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets %J Phys. Teach. %V 45 %N 8 %D November 1, 2007 %P 488-491 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Belloni, Mario %A Christian, Wolfgang %A Cox, Anne %D November 1, 2007 %T Teaching Qualitative Energy-eigenfunction Shape with Physlets %J Phys. Teach. %V 45 %N 8 %P 488-491 %8 November 1, 2007 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2798360


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