The Role of Mathematics in Teaching Quantum Physics at High School

Publikation: Beitrag in Buch/Konferenzbericht/Sammelband/GutachtenBeitrag in Buch/Sammelband/GutachtenBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Gesche Pospiech - , Professur für Didaktik der Physik (Autor:in)
  • Avraham Merzel - (Autor:in)
  • Giacomo Zuccarini - (Autor:in)
  • Efi Weissman - (Autor:in)
  • Nadav Katz - (Autor:in)
  • Igal Galili - (Autor:in)
  • Lorenzo Santi - (Autor:in)
  • Marisa Michelini - (Autor:in)

Abstract

As quantum physics (QP) requires substantial mathematical knowledge, a thorough elementarization by reduction of complexity or with help of visualizations is needed without neglecting the goal of deeper understanding. First, we present how the visualization of the Dirac formalism could contribute to a deeper understanding of the central concepts of QP. Then, we present two teaching/learning proposals (TLP) for high school students based on the Dirac notation. Both approaches show how suitable strategies can improve student understanding of topics rooted in math and indicate significant success of the students in understanding, interpreting and implementation of the basic concepts of QP. The first approach presented here uses the concept of “wavity” or “wave-particle-duality” in the context of Dirac notation. The second approach emphasizes the measurement process and, on this basis, moves on to discuss the quantum state. It is asked whether and how it is possible to use the formal structure of these concepts to support students in interpreting them. In an inquiry-based teaching–learning sequence on high school level, educational strategies for consolidating the grasp of quantum concepts through math were developed and implemented in teaching experiments conducted in the framework of design-based research. Results of data analysis in both cases show that the adopted strategies are largely successful.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
TitelTeaching-Learning Contemporary Physics
Redakteure/-innenBeata Jarosievitz, Csaba Sükösd
ErscheinungsortCham
Herausgeber (Verlag)Springer International Publishing AG
Seiten47-70
Seitenumfang24
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-78719-6 978-3-030-78720-2
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2021
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85133513171

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • High school education, Mathematics in physics, Quantum physics