Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses
written by
Tong Wan, Paul J. Emigh, Gina Passante, and Peter S. Shaffer
Time dependence is an important concept in quantum mechanics that has been shown to be difficult for many students. In trying to understand the problems that students encounter, the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington is examining student ability to reason about the period of quantum states. As part of this investigation, we have begun to probe student understanding of period in other contexts (e.g., phasors and circular motion). Results from analogous written tasks administered in introductory and sophomore-level courses reveal related difficulties. The findings have implications for instruction and are guiding the design of curriculum (Tutorials in Physics: Quantum Mechanics) that is intended to improve student understanding of time dependence in quantum mechanics.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series
Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016
Pages 380-383
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/quantum/items/detail.cfm?ID=14274">Wan, T, P. Emigh, G. Passante, and P. Shaffer. "Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016.</a>
T. Wan, P. Emigh, G. Passante, and P. Shaffer, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628).
T. Wan, P. Emigh, G. Passante, and P. Shaffer, Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628>.
Wan, T., Emigh, P., Passante, G., & Shaffer, P. (2016, July 20-21). Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628
Wan, T, P. Emigh, G. Passante, and P. Shaffer. "Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628 (accessed 13 February 2025).
Wan, Tong, Paul Emigh, Gina Passante, and Peter Shaffer. "Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 380-383 of PER Conference. 13 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Tong Wan and Paul Emigh and Gina Passante and Peter Shaffer",
Title = {Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2016},
Pages = {380-383},
Address = {Sacramento, CA},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 20-21},
Year = {2016}
}
%A Tong Wan %A Paul Emigh %A Gina Passante %A Peter Shaffer %T Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses %S PER Conference %D July 20-21 2016 %P 380-383 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %O July 20-21 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Wan, Tong %A Emigh, Paul %A Passante, Gina %A Shaffer, Peter %D July 20-21 2016 %T Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 380-383 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14274&DocID=4628
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