A New Model Course in Applied Quantum Physics E.F. Redish, R.N. Steinberg, M.C. Wittmann Home | Overview | How Students Learn | Classroom materials | Teacher's Guide Summary | Tutorials | Applied Homework | Essays | Exams | Software | Handouts

 

Tutorials Tutorials are designed to offer students a small group learning environment in which they have the opportunity to develop their reasoning skills. These materials address a small number of fundamentally important aspects of quantum mechanics. To see how they might match your course outline, click here. The table below describes each tutorial and provides links to the research findings specific to individual tutorials, necessary materials and software, and the classroom materials for students (pretests, tutorials, and associated homework). The password for the tutorial is "NewModel". (To view the classroom materials, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here if you do not have it installed on your computer. Note that grayed out text indicates links that will be included on the final version but are not included in the demonstration version of the CD.)

Tutorial	Resources	Classroom materials
Photoelectric effect A computer-based tutorial on the fundamental properties of the photoelectric effect. The tutorial is based on a systematic study of student understanding of the experiment. Software is required in this tutorial. The tutorial leads to an applied homework on the photomultiplier tubes.	PETutor software research	pretest tutorial homework
Wave-particle duality A set of activities designed to help students go from basic wave phenomena to the subtleties of the wave and particle properties of light and matter. The tutorial is based on a systematic study of student understanding of the physics concepts. An additional handout is required. The tutorial leads to an applied homework on the atomic interferometer.	handout research	pretest tutorial homework
Classical probability A set of activities intended to help students make the connection between classical issues of probability and quantum mechanical probabilistic interpretations.		pretest tutorial (math focus) tutorial (conceptual) homework
Spectroscopy A set of materials designed to help students understand the physics of spectroscopy. Students discuss difficulties with the model of revolving electrons and develop the idea of transitions between energy levels via photon emission or absorption. The tutorial makes use of programs from Visual Quantum Mechanics. The tutorials leads to an applied homework on the laser.	VQM software research	pretest tutorial homework
Fourier transform An introduction to Fourier transforms and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.  Students use Fourier transforms to describe localized particles and develop the concepts of the uncertainty principle.  The tutorial uses two specially written spreadsheet analysis tools, written in Microsoft Excel.	Spreadsheet software	pretest tutorial homework
Potential energy diagrams A tutorial on mostly classical potential energy diagrams. Students describe potential energy diagrams and contrast classical and quantum phenomena. MBL software from Vernier and a modified MBL setup are required for the computer version of the tutorial.	equipment MBL software research	pretest tutorial (computer) tutorial (non- computer) homework
Shape of the wavefunction A tutorial on understanding of wave functions based on careful interpretation of kinetic energy in the Schrödinger equation.  Students build on their understanding of potential energy diagrams to discuss how energy levels affect the curvature of the wave function.		pretest tutorial homework
Eigenvalues A tutorial on allowable energy levels in a potential well.  Students use numerical solutions for the wave function at different energy levels to show that only certain energy levels have physically meaningful results. The tutorial uses physlets (Java applets) that solve for the eigenvalues of different potential wells.	Physlets software	pretest tutorial homework
Quantum tunneling A lesson on quantum tunneling. This tutorial is available in a non-computer version and a version that uses a tunneling program that is part of the Visual Quantum Mechanics project. The tutorial leads to an applied homework on the Scanning Tunneling Microscope.	VQM software research	pretest tutorial (computer)  tutorial (non- computer) homework
One dimensional model of molecular bonds A tutorial on a simple model of molecular bonding. Students build on their knowledge of wavefunctions to interpret the physics of two simple square wells as the distance between the wells varies. The tutorial uses physlets (Java applets) that solve for the eigenvalues of different potential wells.	Physlets software	pretest tutorial homework
Quantum model of polarizability A lesson on quantum bands in a simple one-dimensional system.  Students develop a quantum mechanical model of electron location in a 1-D lattice with few atoms to account for macroscopic observations of polarization in substances.   The tutorial makes use of programs from Visual Quantum Mechanics and the CUPS utilities.	VQM and CUPS software	pretest tutorial homework
LEDs and QM bands A tutorial using light emitting diodes to discuss fundamental properties of quantum bands.  Students develop the relationship between quantum bands and the light energy being shined on them.  The tutorial makes use of lab equipment available at a typical electronics store.	equipment research	pretest tutorial homework
Quantum model of conductivity A tutorial on band diagrams and conductivity. Students apply concepts of energy bands to macroscopic systems and discuss the consistency of the classical Drude and quantum mechanical band diagram description of electron flow. The tutorial is based on findings about student difficulties with concepts of conductivity. The tutorial leads to an applied homework on pn-junctions and diodes.	research	pretest tutorial homework
Semiclassical conductivity A tutorial on the Drude model and conducting systems. Students analyze current in terms of electron motion to develop the idea of interactions between lattice and electrons. The tutorial is based on findings about student difficulties with concepts of conductivity.	research	pretest tutorial homework

All of the tutorials included on the CD ROM in Adobe Reader format are also available in editable format. Browse to the folder "NewModel" --> "Tutorials" on the CD, and you will find folders for each of the tutorials. These folders contain copies of the instructional materials editable in both Microsoft Word (all versions since 1997) and StarOffice 5.1 (for Windows). For more information on the two editing programs, see Word, by Microsoft, and StarOffice, by Sun.

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Last modified 2k1 Mar 8