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Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations
written by Michael Vignal, Corinne A. Manogue, David J. Roundy, and Elizabeth Gire
One commonly and persistently difficult topic in thermodynamics is the relationship between the different thermodynamic potentials obtained through Legendre transformations. The Partial Derivative Machine (PDM) was developed at Oregon State University to be a mechanical analogue of a thermodynamic system. This analogue allows students to explore the mathematics of thermodynamics, including Legendre transformations, on a mechanical system that students can understand without having to first learn new physical concepts. We conducted 12 teaching interviews with middle-division undergraduate physics majors to explore student usage of the PDM. In these interviews, we taught interview participants Legendre transformations on the PDM and then asked them to perform a thermodynamics transfer problem. We found that participants used the PDM productively and in different ways while performing the transfer problem. Furthermore, many participants stated that the teaching interview helped their understanding of Legendre transformations.
Physics Education Research Conference 2017
Part of the PER Conference series
Cincinnati, OH: July 26-27, 2017
Pages 404-407
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education - Applied Research
- Instructional Material Design
= Simulation
= Tutorial
Education - Basic Research
- Learning Theory
= Transfer
Thermo & Stat Mech
- Second and Third Law
= Thermodynamic Potentials
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
PER-Central Type Intended Users Ratings
- PER Literature
- Researchers
- Educators
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Format:
application/pdf
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2017…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:
American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/perc.2017.pr.096
NSF Number:
1323800
Keyword:
PERC 2017
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created February 26, 2018 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
March 1, 2018 by Bruce Mason
Last Update
when Cataloged:
March 1, 2018
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Record Link
AIP Format
M. Vignal, C. Manogue, D. Roundy, and E. Gire, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, 2017, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Vignal, C. Manogue, D. Roundy, and E. Gire, Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, 2017, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833>.
APA Format
Vignal, M., Manogue, C., Roundy, D., & Gire, E. (2017, July 26-27). Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH. Retrieved October 6, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833
Chicago Format
Vignal, M, C. Manogue, D. Roundy, and E. Gire. "Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, July 26-27, 2017. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833 (accessed 6 October 2024).
MLA Format
Vignal, Michael, Corinne Manogue, David Roundy, and Elizabeth Gire. "Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations." Physics Education Research Conference 2017. Cincinnati, OH: 2017. 404-407 of PER Conference. 6 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Michael Vignal and Corinne Manogue and David Roundy and Elizabeth Gire", Title = {Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2017}, Pages = {404-407}, Address = {Cincinnati, OH}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 26-27}, Year = {2017} }
Refer Export Format

%A Michael Vignal %A Corinne Manogue %A David Roundy %A Elizabeth Gire %T Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations %S PER Conference %D July 26-27 2017 %P 404-407 %C Cincinnati, OH %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2017 %O July 26-27 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Vignal, Michael %A Manogue, Corinne %A Roundy, David %A Gire, Elizabeth %D July 26-27 2017 %T Analogues in thermodynamics: the Partial Derivative Machine and Legendre transformations %B Physics Education Research Conference 2017 %C Cincinnati, OH %P 404-407 %S PER Conference %8 July 26-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14656&DocID=4833


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