Physics Education
IBM quantum computers are used to simulate the dynamics of small systems of interacting quantum spins. For time-independent systems with fewer than three spins, we compute the exact time evolution at arbitrary times and measure spin…
This work explores the integration of AI custom chatbots in educational settings, with a particular focus on their applicability in the context of mathematics and physics. In view of the increasing deployment of AI tools such as ChatGPT in…
Developing and making sense of quantitative models is a core practice of physics. Covariational reasoning -- considering how the changes in one quantity affect changes in another, related quantity -- is an essential part of modeling…
In the context of physics didactics, alternative instructional approaches have often been employed to facilitate conceptual understanding of various topics. In this article, an alternative formulation for analyzing the motion of bodies on…
This work explores the use of Role Playing Games (RPG) as an active methodology in teaching Modern Physics, focusing on a game called Newton's Revenge. The game was developed with the aim of engaging students in collaborative and…
We present a few charge distributions for which the application of Gauss' law in its integral form, as typically outlined in standard textbooks, results in a contradiction. We identify the root cause of such contradictions and put forward a…
Seemingly we are not so far from Star Trek's food replicator. Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an integral part of both science and education, offering not only automation of processes but also the dynamic creation of…
The transition of second-generation quantum technologies from a research topic to a topic of industrial relevance has led to a growing number of quantum companies and companies that are exploring quantum technologies. Examples would include…
Content-focused research-based assessment instruments typically use items (i.e., questions) as the unit of assessment for scoring, reporting, and validation. Couplet scoring employs an alternative unit of assessment called a couplet, which…
The notched stick, also known as the Gee-Haw-Whammy-Diddle, is a wooden toy able to convert linear vibration into rotational motion, whose behavior has been intriguing both children and physicists for decades. Here we derive an analytical…
We report on an educational pilot program for low-cost physics experimentation run in Ecuador, South Africa, and the United States. The program was developed after having needs-based discussions with African educators, researchers, and…
In computational physics, chemistry, and biology, the implementation of new techniques in a shared and open source software lowers barriers to entry and promotes rapid scientific progress. However, effectively training new software users…
Quantum mechanics is a notoriously abstract subject, and therefore challenging to teach at pre-college and introductory college levels. Here we introduce the Bloch Cube, a hands-on educational tool which can illustrate key quantum concepts…
Developing problem-solving competency is central to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, yet translating this priority into effective approaches to problem-solving instruction and assessment remain a…
Traditional approaches to undergraduate-level quantum mechanics require extensive mathematical preparation, preventing most students from enrolling in a quantum mechanics course until the third year of a physics major. Here we describe an…
Quantum information science is a burgeoning research field attracting vast public and private investment in the last decade. This quick rise has led to a talent gap, where there are more open positions than new graduates who can fill these…
The emergence of conversational natural language processing models presents a significant challenge for Higher Education. In this work, we use the entirety of a UK physics undergraduate (BSc with Honours) degree including all examinations…
Undergraduate students of physics in Tibet have great difficulty learning quantum mechanics (QM). We attempt to use PER-based methods to help Tibetan students learn QM. In this preliminary study, we incorporate Mathematica in a QM course at…
This paper describes an algorithmic system called SQT for the computer simulation of a wide class of quantum experiments on entangled particles. SQT maintains a hidden internal state for each particle and it provides an initialization…
The representation of Spanish-speaking students in STEM identity literature, particularly in physics identity, is conspicuously minimal. This study addresses this gap with a two-pronged approach. First, a physics identity instrument was…