Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams
written by
Evan B. Pollock, John R. Thompson, and Donald B. Mountcastle
Students in an upper-level thermal physics course were asked to compare quantities related to the First Law of Thermodynamics along with similar mathematical questions devoid of all physical context. We report on a comparison of student responses to physics questions involving interpretation of ideal gas processes on P-V diagrams and to analogous mathematical qualitative questions about the signs of and comparisons between the magnitudes of various integrals. Student performance on individual questions combined with performance on the paired questions shows evidence of isolated understanding of physics and mathematics. Some difficulties are addressed by instruction.
Physics Education Research Conference 2007
Part of the PER Conference series Greensboro, NC: August 1-2, 2007 Volume 951, Pages 168-171
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=9096">Pollock, E, J. Thompson, and D. Mountcastle. "Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2007, Greensboro, NC, August 1-2, 2007.</a>
![]() E. Pollock, J. Thompson, and D. Mountcastle, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2007, Greensboro, NC, 2007, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013).
![]() E. Pollock, J. Thompson, and D. Mountcastle, Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2007, Greensboro, NC, 2007, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013>.
![]() Pollock, E., Thompson, J., & Mountcastle, D. (2007, August 1-2). Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2007, Greensboro, NC. Retrieved February 7, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013
![]() Pollock, E, J. Thompson, and D. Mountcastle. "Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2007, Greensboro, NC, August 1-2, 2007. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013 (accessed 7 February 2025).
![]() Pollock, Evan, John Thompson, and Donald Mountcastle. "Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams." Physics Education Research Conference 2007. Greensboro, NC: 2007. 168-171 Vol. 951 of PER Conference. 7 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Evan Pollock and John Thompson and Donald Mountcastle",
Title = {Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2007},
Pages = {168-171},
Address = {Greensboro, NC},
Series = {PER Conference},
Volume = {951},
Month = {August 1-2},
Year = {2007}
}
![]() %A Evan Pollock %A John Thompson %A Donald Mountcastle %T Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams %S PER Conference %V 951 %D August 1-2 2007 %P 168-171 %C Greensboro, NC %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2007 %O August 1-2 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Pollock, Evan %A Thompson, John %A Mountcastle, Donald %D August 1-2 2007 %T Student Understanding of the Physics and Mathematics of Process Variables in P-V Diagrams %B Physics Education Research Conference 2007 %C Greensboro, NC %V 951 %P 168-171 %S PER Conference %8 August 1-2 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9096&DocID=2013 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.
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