Helping students apply superposition principle in problems involving spherical, cylindrical and planar charge distributions

Abstract

We describe student difficulties in applying the superposition principle in combination with Gauss's law. We addressed these difficulties by developing a tutorial that uses guided inquiry. Students who used this tutorial following lecture-based instruction performed significantly better on these topics than those who did not. Instructors can assign the tutorial as classwork or homework.

6 pages, 1 figure for article; 10 pages, 8 figures for supplement