2015/07/03 by Charles Baily, Baily, Charles, Laurens Bollen +7
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #FOS: Physical sciences #Mathematics Education and Teaching Techniques #Physics Education (physics.ed-ph) #Science Education and Pedagogy #Statistics Education and Methodologies #physics.ed-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1507.00849
Physics Education Research Conference 2015 (submitted)
openalex publication_date 2015/07/03 · arxiv created 2015/09/26 · arxiv updated 2015/09/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Undergraduate physics students are known to have difficulties with understanding mathematical tools, and with applying their knowledge of mathematics to physical contexts. Using survey statements based on student interviews and written responses to open-ended questions, we investigated the prevalence of correct and incorrect conceptions regarding the divergence and curl of vector fields, among both mathematics and physics students. We compare and contrast pre-instruction responses from intermediate-level E&M students at KU Leuven and the University of St Andrews, with post-instruction responses from St Andrews students enrolled in a vector calculus course. The differences between these student populations were primarily in areas having to do with physics-related concepts and graphical representations of vector fields. Our comparison of pre- and post-instruction responses from E&M students shows that their understanding of the divergence and curl improved significantly in most areas, though not as much as would be desired.