Tootfinder

"I forgot the formula:" How students can use coherence to reconstruct a (partially) forgotten equation
Katherine Gifford, Gabriel S. Ehrlich, Engin Bumbacher, Eric Kuo
https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.19641

"I forgot the formula:" How students can use coherence to reconstruct a (partially) forgotten equation
Introductory physics instruction emphasizes fluency with routine problem-solving procedures. However, even when applying these procedures, students frequently encounter challenges. This paper investigates how students navigate such moments when answering qualitative E&M problems in interviews. Students frequently noted they had partially forgotten a key equation on a problem involving RC circuits. We present focal cases that show how coherence-seeking approaches were employed to overcome this p…