PROCEEDINGS OF THE 21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2018
San Diego, California
Student reasoning with complex numbers in upper-division physics
Page: 1736
Students encounter complex numbers in many physics courses. In particular physics uses complex exponentials to describe oscillatory phenomena and requires that students use multiple representations (algebraic, x vs t graphs, complex plane). In this poster we will examine student responses suggesting difficulties with the connection between complex numbers and oscillation, drawn from students in upper-division physics courses in math methods.