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Asymmetry measurements are common in collider experiments and can sensitively probe particle properties. Typically, data can only be measured in a finite region covered by the detector, so an extrapolation from the visible asymmetry to the…
The algebra of fourvectors is described. The fourvectors are more appropriate than the Hamilton quaternions for its use in Physics and the sciences in general. The fourvectors embrace the 3D vectors in a natural form. It is shown the…
In this article, we reflect upon our positive experiences incorporating or working on extra credit projects in algebra-based introductory physics that asked students to connect physics with humanities, social sciences, and everyday life. We…
We study the inverse problem in the theory of (standard) orthogonal polynomials involving two polynomials families $(P_n)_n$ and $(Q_n)_n$ which are connected by a linear algebraic structure such as $$P_n(x)+\sum_{i=1}^N…
Electromagnetism (E&M) is often challenging for students enrolled in introductory college-level physics courses. Compared to mechanics, the mathematics of E&M is more sophisticated and the representations are more abstract. Furthermore,…
Holography as a subject is neglected largely in current physics lessons and in school books. Even though this topic might be complex, it is applicable and viable in the world that we live in. Holography lends itself to further develop…
A new vector field is introduced into 2-form Einstein gravity in four dimensions to restore a large symmetry of its topological version. Two different expressions for the BRST charge are given in the system: one of them associated with a…
With inspiration from the classic study by Chi, Feltovich, and Glaser [1], we asked introductory physics students in three introductory physics classes to categorize mechanics problems based upon similarity of solutions. To evaluate the…
The Dirac delta function is a standard mathematical tool used in multiple topical areas in the undergraduate physics curriculum. While Dirac delta functions are usually introduced in order to simplify a problem mathematically, students…
An appropriate diagram is a required element of a solution building process in physics problem solving and it can transform a given problem into a representation that is easier to exploit for solving the problem. A major focus while helping…
In this paper, we aim to resolve two fundamental issues in the dynamics of relativity: (i) Under what condition, the time-column space integrals of a Lorentz four-tensor constitute a Lorentz four-vector, and (ii) under what condition, the…
Students taking introductory physics are rarely exposed to computational modeling. In a one-semester large lecture introductory calculus-based mechanics course at Georgia Tech, students learned to solve physics problems using the VPython…
Geometric algebra is the natural outgrowth of the concept of a vector and the addition of vectors. After reviewing the properties of the addition of vectors, a multiplication of vectors is introduced in such a way that it encodes the famous…
We discuss the development and evaluation of five research-based tutorials on Coulomb's law, superposition, symmetry and Gauss's Law to help students in the calculus-based introductory physics courses learn these concepts. We discuss the…
The traditional approach to studying student understanding presents a question and uses the student answers to make inferences about their knowledge. However, this method does not capture the range of possible alternative ideas available to…
Vector is a physical quantity and it does not depend on any co-ordinate system. It need to be expanded in some basis for practical calculation and its components do depend on the chosen basis. The expansion in orthonormal basis is…
We describe the development of a junior-senior level course for Physics majors designed to teach Mathematica skills in support of their undergraduate coursework, but also to introduce students to modern research level results. Standard…
This paper explains a unified approach for teaching the electrical model of power transformers to undergraduate students using magnetic circuits. The commonly used approach for explaining the electrical model of power transformers is a…
Vector calculus in three-dimensional space is ubiquitous in applications of mathematics in physics and engineering. Its two-dimensional version is, however, quite rare. Here we try to provide a pedagogical account of the subject. It is…
Equations are about more than computing physical quantities or constructing formal models; they are also about understanding. The conceptual systems physicists use to think about nature are made from many different resources, formal and…