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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > February  >
Information • Textbooks • Media • Resources
Mathcad in the Chemistry Curriculum
JCE Online: Interactive Fourier Transform Activities
Theresa Julia Zielinski
Monmouth University, Dept of Chemistry, Medical Technology & Physics, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Cover
February 1999
Vol. 76 No. 2
p. 285
Abstract
In our vigorous teaching of concepts and skills to students, we may cover (hide) more than we uncover, obscuring significant relationships between mathematical models and their associated chemical concepts with excessive mathematical derivations. To set the record straight, I find that mathematical treatments of physical phenomena are beautiful and elegant. Students should know from where the equations and simplifications leading to them arise. They should know the limits of the equations in order to use them properly. However, this can be the Siren's song. For example, the mathematical representation of the Fourier transform and its significance as presented in most texts are too brief to convey understanding to the typical undergraduate student. Furthermore, a few hand calculations would not permit deeper probing of the method and its intimate link to spectroscopy. The Fourier transform is a very good example of how symbolic equation software can help to uncover the science by making the mathematical manipulations easier and the mathematical concepts more accessible.

The complete articles and Mathcad documents described in these abstracts are available from JCE Online at http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCEWWW/Columns/McadInChem/.

More Information
*  Citation
 Zielinski, Theresa Julia. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 285.
*  Keywords
 Fourier Transform Techniques; Internet
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 June 15, 1999
June 22, 2005
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