Jeffrey M. Hawkins, John R. Thompson, and Michael C. Wittmann
Students Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks
AIP Conf. Proc. -- November 5, 2009 -- Volume 1179, pp. 161-164
2009 PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH CONFERENCE; doi:10.1063/1.3266704
In a series of ten two-dimensional graphical vector addition questions with varying visual representations, most students stuck to a single solution method, be it correct or incorrect. Changes to the visual representation include placing vectors on a grid, making the vectors arrangements symmetric, varying the separation between vectors, and reversing the direction of either vector. We discuss the questions asked of students and their responses, emphasizing the results of one student who did change solution methods during an interview. ©2009 American Institute of Physics