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Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research
Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context
written by Warren M. Christensen and John R. Thompson
By analysis of student use of mathematics in responses to conceptual physics questions, as well as analogous math questions stripped of physical meaning, we have previously found evidence that students often enter upper-level physics courses lacking the assumed prerequisite mathematics knowledge and/or the ability to apply it productively in a physics context. As an extension from this work on students' mathematical competency at the upper level in physics, we report on a preliminary investigation of mathematical understanding of fundamental concepts of slope and derivative among students in a third-semester multivariable calculus course. Among the first published findings of physics education research are investigations on students' understanding of kinematics, with particular attention to graphical representations of position-, velocity-, and acceleration-versus-time graphs. Underlying these physical quantities are relationships that depend on derivatives and slopes. We report on our findings as we attempt to isolate students' understanding of these mathematical concepts.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education - Basic Research
- Problem Solving
= Representational Use
- Student Characteristics
= Skills
Mathematical Tools
- Calculus
- Lower Undergraduate
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Format:
application/pdf
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevST…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:
American Physical Society
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.8.023101
NSF Numbers:
0633951
0817282
PACS:
01.40.-d
Keywords:
analogous questions, conceptual questions, graphical representations
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created August 10, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
May 28, 2013 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
July 26, 2012
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
W. Christensen and J. Thompson, , Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8 (2), 023101 (2012), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079).
AJP/PRST-PER
W. Christensen and J. Thompson, Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8 (2), 023101 (2012), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079>.
APA Format
Christensen, W., & Thompson, J. (2012, July 26). Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context. Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 8(2), 023101. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079
Chicago Format
Christensen, Warren M., and John Thompson. "Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8, no. 2, (July 26, 2012): 023101, https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079 (accessed 2 November 2024).
MLA Format
Christensen, Warren M., and John Thompson. "Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context." Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 8.2 (2012): 023101. 2 Nov. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Warren M. Christensen and John Thompson", Title = {Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context}, Journal = {Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res.}, Volume = {8}, Number = {2}, Pages = {023101}, Month = {July}, Year = {2012} }
Refer Export Format

%A Warren M. Christensen %A John Thompson %T Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 8 %N 2 %D July 26, 2012 %P 023101 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Christensen, Warren M. %A Thompson, John %D July 26, 2012 %T Investigating graphical representations of slope and derivative without a physics context %J Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. %V 8 %N 2 %P 023101 %8 July 26, 2012 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=12353&DocID=3079


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