Identifying and addressing student difficulties with electrostatics and magnetostatics in introductory and advanced courses

Abstract

This dissertation describes an investigation of student conceptual understanding of statics concepts in E&M, at the introductory and junior level. At the introductory level, this research led to the development of three new research-based and research-validated worksheets for Tutorials in Introductory Physics. The topics are electric potential difference, electric properties of conductors, and Ampère’s law. The research at the junior level provides the initial research base for the creation of a set of junior-level worksheets, Tutorials in Physics: Electrodynamics. This research primarily focuses on identifying advanced students’ difficulties with various topics across the E&M course, as well as comparing the difficulties encountered by introductory and advanced students. We also describe some initial attempts to address these conceptual difficulties at the junior level in electrostatics and magnetostatics.