Student Intuitions in Statistical Mechanics

Sammanfattning

This exploratory case study aimed to investigate patterns in student reasoning in statistical mechanics, in order to identify difficulties and develop ideas for future research. Upper-division undergraduate students, taking a course in statistical mechanics, were interviewed in groups. Here we present our findings regarding student difficulties in distinguishing microstates and macrostates, as well as distinguishable versus indistinguishable particles. We also present observed patterns of student reasoning about a simple, discrete system in contact with a heat bath. Our findings reveal problematic student intuitions of the high temperature limit. Several students were, however, able to transfer knowledge from a similar problem involving spin to improve their reasoning.