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written by
Michael C. Wittmann, Jeffrey Morgan, and Lei Bao
We report on a multi-year, multi-institution study to investigate students' reasoning about energy in the context of quantum tunneling. We use ungraded surveys, graded examination questions, individual clinical interviews and multiple-choice exams to build a picture of the types of responses that students typically give. We find that two descriptions of tunneling through a square barrier are particularly common. Students often state that tunneling particles lose energy while tunneling. When sketching wavefunctions, students also show a shift in the axis of oscillation, as if the height of the axis of oscillation indicated the energy of the particle. We find inconsistencies between students' conceptual, mathematical and graphical models of quantum tunneling. As part of a curriculum in quantum physics, we have developed instructional materials designed to help students develop a more robust and less inconsistent picture of tunneling, and present data suggesting that we have succeeded in doing so.
European Journal of Physics: Volume 26, Issue 6, Pages 939-965
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![]() <a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=12083">Wittmann, M, J. Morgan, and L. Bao. "Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling." Eur. J. Phys. 26, no. 6, (August 8, 2005): 939-965.</a>
![]() M. Wittmann, J. Morgan, and L. Bao, , Eur. J. Phys. 26 (6), 939 (2005), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001).
![]() M. Wittmann, J. Morgan, and L. Bao, Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling, Eur. J. Phys. 26 (6), 939 (2005), <https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001>.
![]() Wittmann, M., Morgan, J., & Bao, L. (2005, August 8). Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling. Eur. J. Phys., 26(6), 939-965. Retrieved February 8, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001
![]() Wittmann, M, J. Morgan, and L. Bao. "Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling." Eur. J. Phys. 26, no. 6, (August 8, 2005): 939-965, https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001 (accessed 8 February 2025).
![]() Wittmann, Michael, Jeffrey Morgan, and Lei Bao. "Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling." Eur. J. Phys. 26.6 (2005): 939-965. 8 Feb. 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Michael Wittmann and Jeffrey Morgan and Lei Bao",
Title = {Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling},
Journal = {Eur. J. Phys.},
Volume = {26},
Number = {6},
Pages = {939-965},
Month = {August},
Year = {2005}
}
![]() %A Michael Wittmann %A Jeffrey Morgan %A Lei Bao %T Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling %J Eur. J. Phys. %V 26 %N 6 %D August 8, 2005 %P 939-965 %U https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Wittmann, Michael %A Morgan, Jeffrey %A Bao, Lei %D August 8, 2005 %T Addressing Student Models of Energy Loss in Quantum Tunneling %J Eur. J. Phys. %V 26 %N 6 %P 939-965 %8 August 8, 2005 %U https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/001 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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