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Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course
Upper division thermodynamics courses require students to develop proficiency with several combinatorial topics. While little research has been done to establish student comfort and proficiency with these topics within physics, anecdotally, instructors of these courses report that students experience unaddressed challenges when working with combinatorics. Through examining student solutions to questions on homework assignments and examinations, we identified some common student difficulties with combinatorics in the context of an upper-division thermodynamics and statistical mechanics course at a large research university. Some of these common challenges include identifying how to work with distinguishability and order, checking formulas against a specific case, and combining the multiplicities of multiple systems.
Physics Education Research Conference 2021
Part of the PER Conference series Virtual Conference: August 4-5, 2021 Pages 315-320
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=15770">Oliver, Kristin A., and Bethany Wilcox. "Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, August 4-5, 2021.</a>
AIP Format
K. Oliver and B. Wilcox, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, 2021, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502).
AJP/PRST-PER
K. Oliver and B. Wilcox, Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, 2021, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502>.
APA Format
Oliver, K., & Wilcox, B. (2021, August 4-5). Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502
Chicago Format
Oliver, Kristin A., and Bethany Wilcox. "Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2021, Virtual Conference, August 4-5, 2021. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502 (accessed 4 May 2025).
MLA Format
Oliver, Kristin A., and Bethany Wilcox. "Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course." Physics Education Research Conference 2021. Virtual Conference: 2021. 315-320 of PER Conference. 4 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Kristin A. Oliver and Bethany Wilcox",
Title = {Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2021},
Pages = {315-320},
Address = {Virtual Conference},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {August 4-5},
Year = {2021}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Kristin A. Oliver %A Bethany Wilcox %T Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course %S PER Conference %D August 4-5 2021 %P 315-320 %C Virtual Conference %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2021 %O August 4-5 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Oliver, Kristin A. %A Wilcox, Bethany %D August 4-5 2021 %T Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course %B Physics Education Research Conference 2021 %C Virtual Conference %P 315-320 %S PER Conference %8 August 4-5 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15770&DocID=5502 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. Understanding combinatorics challenges in an upper-division thermodynamics course:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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