Peter S. Shaffer
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View article: Issue Information
Issue Information Open
Acceptance of predictive modeling as a verification method in inventories complying with the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions is determined by individual states, many of which accept this approach.Predictive modeling is an accurate, time-sav…
View article: Effect of Essential Skills Practice on Student Understanding of Probabilities in an Upper-Division Quantum Mechanics Course
Effect of Essential Skills Practice on Student Understanding of Probabilities in an Upper-Division Quantum Mechanics Course Open
An important component of learning physics is being able to apply concepts and reasoning when solving problems. This can be especially challenging for students in quantum mechanics courses, in which the mathematical nature of the theory re…
View article: Research-based quantum instruction: Paradigms and Tutorials
Research-based quantum instruction: Paradigms and Tutorials Open
A growing body of research-based instructional materials for quantum mechanics has been developed in recent years. Despite a common grounding in the research literature on student ideas about quantum mechanics, there are some major differe…
View article: Probing student understanding of spectra through the use of a typical experiment used in teaching introductory modern physics
Probing student understanding of spectra through the use of a typical experiment used in teaching introductory modern physics Open
The topic of atomic spectra is part of university and secondary school curricula around the world. Relatively little research, however, has been done on the learning and teaching of this subject, despite the fact that it forms a foundation…
View article: Probing student reasoning in relating relative phase and quantum phenomena
Probing student reasoning in relating relative phase and quantum phenomena Open
In quantum mechanics, probability amplitudes are complex numbers and the relative phases between the terms in superposition states have measurable effects. This article describes an investigation into sophomore- and junior-level students’ …
View article: Investigating how students relate inner products and quantum probabilities
Investigating how students relate inner products and quantum probabilities Open
The Born rule, which describes the formalism for determining probabilities, is one of the most fundamental postulates in quantum mechanics. This paper presents results from an investigation into how students apply the Born rule to determin…
View article: Curriculum development to improve student understanding of rolling motion
Curriculum development to improve student understanding of rolling motion Open
Research has led to the identification of some specific difficulties that students have in understanding the motion of an object that is rolling without slipping.At the University of Washington, we have been building on this work and are d…
View article: Developing and assessing tutorials for quantum mechanics: Time dependence and measurements
Developing and assessing tutorials for quantum mechanics: Time dependence and measurements Open
Tutorials in Physics: Quantum Mechanics is a set of curricular materials for supplementing upper-division quantum mechanics instruction, developed by the physics education group at the University of Washington. We describe the development …
View article: Student understanding of the measurable effects of relative phases in superposition states
Student understanding of the measurable effects of relative phases in superposition states Open
Quantum states have complex probability amplitudes that are sometimes represented by positive real numbers multiplied by complex exponentials.Although the overall phase of a superposition state does not affect the probabilities, the relati…
View article: Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses
Student Understanding of Period in Introductory and Quantum Physics Courses Open
Time dependence is an important concept in quantum mechanics that has been shown to be difficult for many students.In trying to understand the problems that students encounter, the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington is…
View article: Student Understanding of Superposition: Vectors and Wave Functions
Student Understanding of Superposition: Vectors and Wave Functions Open
As part of a broad investigation of student understanding in physics, we have examined student ability with superposition throughout introductory and upper-division courses in physics.This research has focused on examining student ability …
View article: Improving Student Understanding of Vector Fields in Junior-Level E&M
Improving Student Understanding of Vector Fields in Junior-Level E&M Open
Over the past several years, the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington has been developing tutorial worksheets for small-group sections for junior-level electrodynamics courses.We have observed that most of our students e…