PERC 2019 Abstract Detail Page
Previous Page | New Search | Browse All
Abstract Title: | Students’ conversion from electric field line diagrams to other representations |
---|---|
Abstract: | In electricity and magnetism (E&M) courses, students have difficulties understanding the concept of electric field. Because of its abstract nature, students can only comprehend the concept of electric field through the use of representations, such as the algebraic notation, the vector field representation and electric field line diagrams. We aim to analyze how students understand the concept of electric field when converting from the electric field line diagram to the vector field plot and the algebraic notation. We conducted a study with 64 introductory engineering physics students after their E&M course. Students answered a question shown with an electric field line diagram and were asked to convert to either the vector field plot or the algebraic notation. We analyzed students' answers based on how they recognize the magnitude and direction of the field in the diagram and convert to the desired representation. The results suggest that most students have difficulties interpreting the electric field line diagram. |
Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Session Time: | Poster Session II |
Poster Number: | B44 |
Contributed Paper Record: | Contributed Paper Information |
Contributed Paper Download: | Download Contributed Paper |
Author/Organizer Information | |
Primary Contact: |
Genaro Zavala Tecnologico de Monterrey Av. Revolución 2703 R81503 Col. Ladrillera Monterrey, Non U.S. 64830 Phone: +528182533581 |
Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Esmeralda Campos Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Monterrey, Mexico Genaro Zavala Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Monterrey, Mexico Universidad Andres Bello, Facultad de Ingenieria, Santiago, Chile Kristina Zuza University of the Basque Country, Department of Applied Physics, San Sebastian, Spain Jenaro Guisasola University of the Basque Country, Department of Applied Physics, San Sebastian, Spain |