Students' Notions regarding "Covariance" of a Physical Theory

Autor/inn/en	Bandyopadhyay, Atanu; Kumar, Arvind
Titel	Students' Notions regarding "Covariance" of a Physical Theory
Quelle	In: European Journal of Physics, 31 (2010) 6, S.1391-1413 (23 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0143-0807
DOI	10.1088/0143-0807/31/6/008
Schlagwörter	Theories; College Science; Undergraduate Students; Scientific Principles; Questionnaires; Scientific Concepts; Physics; Concept Formation; Misconceptions + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Theory; Theorie; Fragebogen; Physik; Concept learning; Begriffsbildung; Missverständnis
Abstract	A physical theory is said to be covariant with respect to a certain class of transformations when its basic equations retain their "form" under those transformations. It is one of the basic notions encountered in physics, particularly in the domain of relativity. In this paper we study in some detail how students deal with this notion in different contexts (rotational, Galilean, Lorentz and general covariance). The tool of the study is a diagnostic questionnaire developed through a pilot study and then administered on a sample of 27 senior undergraduates undergoing a course on relativity. The analysis helps us identify a number of conceptual vulnerabilities of students in the domain. The most important of these concerns the non-covariant manifestations of a covariant theory, and the connection between Galilean and Lorentz invariants. The study should be useful in the teaching of relativity at the senior undergraduate and graduate levels. (Contains 3 figures, 22 tables and 5 footnotes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10