Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics
written by
Chandralekha Singh and Emily Marshman
The expectation value of an observable is an important concept in quantum mechanics. However, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in physics have both conceptual and procedural difficulties when determining the expectation value of physical observables, especially when using Dirac notation. To investigate these difficulties, we administered free-response and multiple-choice questions and conducted individual interviews with students. Here, we discuss the analysis of data on student difficulties when determining the expectation value.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series
Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016
Pages 320-323
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/quantum/items/detail.cfm?ID=14259">Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016.</a>
C. Singh and E. Marshman, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613).
C. Singh and E. Marshman, Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613>.
Singh, C., & Marshman, E. (2016, July 20-21). Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved September 10, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613
Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613 (accessed 10 September 2024).
Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 320-323 of PER Conference. 10 Sep. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613>.
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Singh, Chandralekha %A Marshman, Emily %D July 20-21 2016 %T Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 320-323 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613
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