PERC 2021 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Comparing students' understanding of Gauss's and Ampere's laws with field sources in square-like symmetries |
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| Abstract: | The research in E&M has commonly focused on problem-solving abilities and the use of physical principles for such matters. Several studies have found that some concepts represent a challenge for undergraduate students, such as Gauss's and Ampere's laws. The inability to identify and analyze the symmetry of field and field source distributions and focus on the surface features of these E&M systems are two of the main difficulties associated with these laws so far. We present this study to contribute with a different perspective of observing 322 introductory E&M students' understanding of these laws with unconventional shapes for the field sources' enclosing objects. We use a phenomenographic approach to detect difficulties and compare the difficulties between the two contexts and those previously reported. Our main findings suggest that some students make an incomplete or incorrect analysis of the situation when they refer to surface features of the situation and that the confusions between flux and field in the electric context, or between circulation and field in the magnetic context, persist. Finally, we present suggestions for teachers to approach these difficulties. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Session Time: | Poster Session 2 Room A |
| Poster Number: | 2A-25 |
| Contributed Paper Record: | Contributed Paper Information |
| Contributed Paper Download: | Download Contributed Paper |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Esmeralda Campos Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L., México, 64849 Monterrey, Non U.S. 64849 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Eder Hernandez Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L., México, 64849 Pablo Barniol Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L., México, 64849 Genaro Zavala Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L., México, 64849 Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile |
