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Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect
written by Emily Marshman, Christof Keebaugh, and Chandralekha Singh
We discuss an investigation of student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect using the degenerate perturbation theory. The investigation was carried out in advanced quantum mechanics courses by administering free-response and multiple-choice questions and conducting individual interviews with students. We find that students share many common difficulties related to relevant physics concepts. In particular, students often struggled with mathematical sense-making in this context of quantum mechanics which requires interpretation of the implications of degeneracy in the unperturbed energy spectrum and how the Zeeman perturbation will impact the splitting of the energy levels. We discuss how the common difficulties often arise from the fact that applying linear algebra concepts correctly in this context with degeneracy in the energy spectrum is challenging for students.
Physics Education Research Conference 2018
Part of the PER Conference series
Washington, DC: August 1-2, 2018
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education - Basic Research
- Alternative Conceptions
Mathematical Tools
- Linear Algebra and Tensors
Quantum Physics
- Bound State Systems
= Hydrogen Atom
- Upper Undergraduate
- Graduate/Professional
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Format:
application/pdf
Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2018…
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.2018.pr.Marshman
NSF Numbers:
1505460
1806691
Keyword:
PERC 2018
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created December 31, 2018 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
February 4, 2019 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 31, 2018
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Record Link
AIP Format
E. Marshman, C. Keebaugh, and C. Singh, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, 2018, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968).
AJP/PRST-PER
E. Marshman, C. Keebaugh, and C. Singh, Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, 2018, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968>.
APA Format
Marshman, E., Keebaugh, C., & Singh, C. (2018, August 1-2). Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC. Retrieved December 13, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968
Chicago Format
Marshman, E, C. Keebaugh, and C. Singh. "Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, August 1-2, 2018. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968 (accessed 13 December 2024).
MLA Format
Marshman, Emily, Christof Keebaugh, and Chandralekha Singh. "Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect." Physics Education Research Conference 2018. Washington, DC: 2018. of PER Conference. 13 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Emily Marshman and Christof Keebaugh and Chandralekha Singh", Title = {Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2018}, Address = {Washington, DC}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {August 1-2}, Year = {2018} }
Refer Export Format

%A Emily Marshman %A Christof Keebaugh %A Chandralekha Singh %T Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect %S PER Conference %D August 1-2 2018 %C Washington, DC %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2018 %O August 1-2 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Marshman, Emily %A Keebaugh, Christof %A Singh, Chandralekha %D August 1-2 2018 %T Student difficulties with the corrections to the energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom for the intermediate field Zeeman effect %B Physics Education Research Conference 2018 %C Washington, DC %S PER Conference %8 August 1-2 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14821&DocID=4968


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