PERC 2025 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Investigating students' understanding of electric fields at boundaries |
|---|---|
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Abstract: | Students often find it difficult to connect abstract ideas to complex problem solving. While much of the research on student difficulties in problem-solving focuses on mechanics, comparatively fewer studies have addressed challenges in electricity and magnetism, where boundary conditions near conductors are a topic that has received very little attention. This study explores student misconceptions related to electric fields in the context of conductive surfaces through a qualitative analysis of interview data. Six open ended interview questions were designed, focusing on key concepts such as electric field orientation on the surface of a conductor, surface charge distribution and importance of these kind of questions. Student responses were analyzed using NV ivo, enabling the identification and categorization of common themes and misconceptions. Based on these findings, ten multiple choice questions were developed to serve as the basis for a future quantitative study. |
| Session Time: | Poster Session B |
| Poster Number: | B-153 |
| Contributed Paper Record: | Contributed Paper Information |
| Contributed Paper Download: | Download Contributed Paper |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Smitha Maheswara Kumar Department of Physics, Indiana University, Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN 46202 Phone: 317-767-9049 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Greg Gallagher, Department of Physics, Indiana University, Indianapolis Andrew Gavrin, Department of Physics, Indiana University, Indianapolis |
Contributed Poster | |
| Contributed Poster: | Download the Contributed Poster |
