A Hermite Polynomial

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to give students practice with series solutions to differential equations that result in polynomials.
2. Students work in small groups to find a polynomial solution to the Hermite equation for a given eigenvalue from the recurrence relation.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes that there are two solutions, one of which ends up being not physically relevant, and emphasizes what relevant features of the recurrence relation lead to polynomial solutions.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This activity is a good bridge between the general method for solving differential equations using power series and the physically relevant examples that will come up in the rest of Central Forces (and eventually in the Quantum Capstone).

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version