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The Physics Teacher
written by Edward F. Redish
Learning to use math in science is a non-trivial task. It involves many different skills (not usually taught in a math class) that help blend physical knowledge with mathematical symbology. One of these is the idea of quantification--that physical quantities can be assigned specific numbers (with a unit). A second is to develop an intuition for scale. One way to help students develop these skills is to teach estimation: the ability to consider a physical situation and put reasonable approximate numbers to it.

This paper is the second in a series of five articles on how to help students develop the scientific thinking skills required for learning to use math in science. The other articles explore dimensional analysis, anchor equations, toy models, and functional dependence.

See Related Materials for links to the additional articles that comprise this series: Collection Overview, plus articles addressing dimensional analysis, anchor equations, toy models, and functional dependence.
The Physics Teacher: Volume 59, Issue 7, Pages 525-529
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Learning Theory
- Problem Solving
= Processes
Education Practices
- Pedagogy
General Physics
- Measurement/Units
= Scaling
- Scientific Reasoning
Other Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Lower Undergraduate
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© 2021 Redish, E.F.
DOI:
10.1119/5.0021823
NSF Numbers:
DUE-1504366
DUE-1624478
Keywords:
IPLS, Introductory Physics for Life Sciences, quantitative intuition, scaling, sense making
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 18, 2023 by Sam McKagan
Record Updated:
October 20, 2023 by Sam McKagan
Last Update
when Cataloged:
September 24, 2021
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AIP Format
E. Redish, , Phys. Teach. 59 (7), 525 (2021), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823).
AJP/PRST-PER
E. Redish, Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation, Phys. Teach. 59 (7), 525 (2021), <https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823>.
APA Format
Redish, E. (2021, September 24). Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation. Phys. Teach., 59(7), 525-529. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823
Chicago Format
Redish, Edward F.. "Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation." Phys. Teach. 59, no. 7, (September 24, 2021): 525-529, https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823 (accessed 13 November 2024).
MLA Format
Redish, Edward F.. "Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation." Phys. Teach. 59.7 (2021): 525-529. 13 Nov. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Edward F. Redish", Title = {Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation}, Journal = {Phys. Teach.}, Volume = {59}, Number = {7}, Pages = {525-529}, Month = {September}, Year = {2021} }
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%A Edward F. Redish %T Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation %J Phys. Teach. %V 59 %N 7 %D September 24, 2021 %P 525-529 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Redish, Edward F. %D September 24, 2021 %T Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation %J Phys. Teach. %V 59 %N 7 %P 525-529 %8 September 24, 2021 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0021823


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Using Math in Physics: 2. Estimation:

Accompanies Using Math in Physics: 1. Dimensional Analysis

This is a link to the first in this series of five articles: "Using Math in Physics 1: Dimensional Analysis".

relation by Caroline Hall
Accompanies Using Math in Physics: 3. Anchor equations

A link to the third in this series of five articles: "Using Math in Physics 3: Anchor Equations".

relation by Caroline Hall
Accompanies Using Math in Physics: 4. Toy models

A link to the fourth in this series of five articles: "Using Math in Physics 4: Toy Models".

relation by Caroline Hall
Accompanies Using Math in Physics: Overview

A link to the overview article by E.F. Redish that explains how all items in this collection are related to the topic "Using Math in Physics".

relation by Caroline Hall
Accompanies Using Math in Physics: 5. Functional dependence

A link to the fifth in this series of five articles: "Using Math in Physics 2: Functional Dependence".

relation by Caroline Hall

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