Conference Proceedings Detail Page
Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states
written by
Hunter G. Close, Catherine C. Schiber, Eleanor W. Close, and David Donnelly
Quantum states are traditionally cognitively managed exclusively with algebra rather than geometry. One reason for emphasizing algebra is the high dimensionality of quantum mathematical systems; even spin-1/2 systems require a 2-d complex number space for describing their quantum states, which can be hard to visualize. Using "nested phasor diagrams," which use nesting to increase the dimensionality of graphic space, we taught undergraduate students to represent spin-1/2 states graphically as well as algebraically. In oral exams, students were asked to identify which spin-1/2 states, expressed arithmetically, would generate the same set of probabilities as each other (i.e., they are the same except for a different overall phase factor). Video records of oral exams (N=13) show that no student performed this task successfully using an algebraic method; instead, all successful students solved the problem graphically. Furthermore, most students who were successful used a certain gesture to solve the problem.
Physics Education Research Conference 2013
Part of the PER Conference series Portland, OR: July 17-18, 2013 Pages 93-96
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13115">Close, H, C. Schiber, E. Close, and D. Donnelly. "Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013.</a>
AIP Format
H. Close, C. Schiber, E. Close, and D. Donnelly, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664).
AJP/PRST-PER
H. Close, C. Schiber, E. Close, and D. Donnelly, Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, 2013, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664>.
APA Format
Close, H., Schiber, C., Close, E., & Donnelly, D. (2013, July 17-18). Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR. Retrieved October 13, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664
Chicago Format
Close, H, C. Schiber, E. Close, and D. Donnelly. "Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2013, Portland, OR, July 17-18, 2013. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664 (accessed 13 October 2024).
MLA Format
Close, Hunter, Catherine Schiber, Eleanor Close, and Dave Donnelly. "Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states." Physics Education Research Conference 2013. Portland, OR: 2013. 93-96 of PER Conference. 13 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Hunter Close and Catherine Schiber and Eleanor Close and Dave Donnelly",
Title = {Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2013},
Pages = {93-96},
Address = {Portland, OR},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 17-18},
Year = {2013}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Hunter Close %A Catherine Schiber %A Eleanor Close %A Dave Donnelly %T Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states %S PER Conference %D July 17-18 2013 %P 93-96 %C Portland, OR %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %O July 17-18 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Close, Hunter %A Schiber, Catherine %A Close, Eleanor %A Donnelly, Dave %D July 17-18 2013 %T Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states %B Physics Education Research Conference 2013 %C Portland, OR %P 93-96 %S PER Conference %8 July 17-18 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13115&DocID=3664 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. Students' dynamic geometric reasoning about quantum spin-1/2 states:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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