PROCEEDINGS OF THE 21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2018
San Diego, California
Student Resources for Unit and Position Vectors in Cartesian and Non-Cartesian Coordinate Systems
Page: 1742
As part of a broader study into students’ understanding of students’ use of mathematics in upper-division physics courses, this study investigates how students conceptualize unit and position vectors in Non-Cartesian Coordinate Systems using a theoretical framework of resources. We present a case study of Mark, a Senior physics major, and identify the resources that Mark activates while answering conceptual questions without a direct physics context during a one-on-one interview protocol. This analysis identifies specific resources that Mark brings to bear when reasoning about vectors. The results of this case study provide a guide for analyzing additional interviews and allow us to pursue the long-term goal of curriculum development that can be used to improve students’ use and understanding of non-Cartesian coordinate systems.