PERC 2025 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Physicists say WHAT about F=ma?? Exploring Expert Interpretations of Basic Physics Equations |
|---|---|
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Abstract: | Understanding equations is one of the most essential yet difficult skills for introductory physics students to master. This is, in part, because physics requires an understanding of equations that reaches beyond mathematical formalism. To pinpoint how this understanding develops with expertise, we investigated the hallmarks of expert interpretation of physics equations through interviews with physics professors and graduate students. Experts were interviewed via problem-solving sessions in which they used canonical physics equations to solve introductory problems. Interviewees were asked to explain the meaning of the equations used, with emphasis placed on the role of the equals sign. Experts offered various interpretations of the equals sign, ranging from mathematical mechanisms to indicators of narrative or context-dependent relationships between variables. Often, multiple interpretations were provided for a single equation depending on its context and algebraic structure. Prevalent equals sign interpretations and notable differences between levels of expertise are discussed. |
| Footnote: | This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE-2348883 and DGE-2329292. This research was conducted as part of the 2025 Collaborations in Discipline-Based Education Research REU program at North Dakota State University. |
| Session Time: | Poster Session B |
| Poster Number: | B-97 |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Erika Falco University of Maryland |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
William Riihiluoma, North Dakota State University John Buncher, North Dakota State University |
