PROCEEDINGS OF THE 23RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2020
Boston, Massachusetts
Exploring and supporting physics students’ understanding of basis and projection
Page: 935
Linear algebra plays an important role in describing quantum mechanical systems and representing different quantum states. In particular, the ideas of basis and the process of changing basis are fundamental to understanding the nature of quantum states. However, quantum mechanics is abstract and can be very challenging for students. In this paper we describe the development and implementation of an activity that connects a quantum state to a Cartesian coordinate system as an analogy for understanding basis. We further describe changes made from the first implementation as we develop the activity for further use.