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Mathematical Sense-Making in Quantum Mechanics: An Initial Peek

Authors :
Dreyfus, Benjamin W.
Elby, Andrew
Gupta, Ayush
Sohr, Erin Ronayne
Source :
Physical Review Physics Education Research. Jul-Dec 2017 13(2):020141-20141.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Mathematical sense-making--looking for coherence between the structure of the mathematical formalism and causal or functional relations in the world--is a core component of physics expertise. Some physics education research studies have explored what mathematical sense-making looks like at the introductory physics level, while some historians and "science studies" have explored how expert physicists engage in it. What is largely missing, with a few exceptions, is theoretical and empirical work at the intermediate level--upper division physics students--especially when they are learning difficult new mathematical formalism. In this paper, we present analysis of a segment of video-recorded discussion between two students grappling with a quantum mechanics question to illustrate what mathematical sense-making can look like in quantum mechanics. We claim that mathematical sense-making is possible and productive for learning and problem solving in quantum mechanics. Mathematical sense-making in quantum mechanics is continuous in many ways with mathematical sense-making in introductory physics. However, in the context of quantum mechanics, the connections between formalism, intuitive conceptual schema, and the physical world become more compound (nested) and indirect. We illustrate these similarities and differences in part by proposing a new symbolic form, "eigenvector eigenvalue," which is composed of multiple primitive symbolic forms.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2469-9896
Volume :
13
Issue :
2
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
Physical Review Physics Education Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ1165693
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.13.020141