Journal Article Detail Page
Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism
written by
Rachel E. Pepper, Stephanie Viola Chasteen, Steven J. Pollock, and Katherine Perkins
We discuss common difficulties in upper-division electricity and magnetism (E&M) in the areas of Gauss's law, vector calculus, and electric potential using both quantitative and qualitative evidence. We also show that many of these topical difficulties may be tied to student difficulties with mathematics. At the junior level, some students struggle to combine mathematical calculations and physics ideas, to account for the underlying spatial situation when doing a mathematical calculation, and to access appropriate mathematical tools. We discuss the implications of our findings for E&M instruction at the junior level.
Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research: Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages 010111
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=11916">Pepper, R, S. Chasteen, S. Pollock, and K. Perkins. "Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8, no. 1, (March 27, 2012): 010111.</a>
AIP Format
R. Pepper, S. Chasteen, S. Pollock, and K. Perkins, , Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8 (1), 010111 (2012), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805).
AJP/PRST-PER
R. Pepper, S. Chasteen, S. Pollock, and K. Perkins, Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8 (1), 010111 (2012), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805>.
APA Format
Pepper, R., Chasteen, S., Pollock, S., & Perkins, K. (2012, March 27). Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism. Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 8(1), 010111. Retrieved February 9, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805
Chicago Format
Pepper, R, S. Chasteen, S. Pollock, and K. Perkins. "Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8, no. 1, (March 27, 2012): 010111, https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805 (accessed 9 February 2025).
MLA Format
Pepper, Rachel, Stephanie Viola Chasteen, Steven Pollock, and Katherine Perkins. "Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8.1 (2012): 010111. 9 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{
Author = "Rachel Pepper and Stephanie Viola Chasteen and Steven Pollock and Katherine Perkins",
Title = {Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res.},
Volume = {8},
Number = {1},
Pages = {010111},
Month = {March},
Year = {2012}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Rachel Pepper %A Stephanie Viola Chasteen %A Steven Pollock %A Katherine Perkins %T Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 8 %N 1 %D March 27, 2012 %P 010111 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Journal Article %A Pepper, Rachel %A Chasteen, Stephanie Viola %A Pollock, Steven %A Perkins, Katherine %D March 27, 2012 %T Observations on student difficulties with mathematics in upper-division electricity and magnetism %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 8 %N 1 %P 010111 %8 March 27, 2012 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11916&DocID=2805 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 AJP/PRST-PER presented is based on the AIP Style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles. 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. |
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