Search results for "PHYSICS EDUCATION"
showing 10 items of 101 documents
The first year of the “open discovery of stem laboratories” (ODL) project
2018
The Open Discovery of STEM Laboratories (ODL) project, co-funded by the European Community Erasmus+ KA2 program for 30 months, starting from November 2015, involves five countries: Spain, Italy, Greece, Estonia and Lithuania. It aims to implement teacher collaboration in creating and using μMOOCs (very short version of MOOCs-Massive Open Online Courses) for encouraging the use of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) remote/virtual laboratories into lessons. The challenge of the project is to impact on teaching process and inspire pedagogical innovation and modernization by means of open education resources, teaching/learning tools and best practices provided by European e…
Particle Physics in High School: A Diagnose Study
2016
Abstract The science learning process improves when the contents are connected to students' lives. Particle physics has had a great impact in our society in the last years and has changed the theoretical picture about matter fundamental dynamics. Thus, we think that academic contents about matter components and interactions should be updated. With this study we aim to characterize the level of knowledge of high school students about this topic. We built a test with questions about classical atomic models, particle physics, recent discoveries, social implications and students opinions about it. Contrary to our first suspicion, students' answers show a high variability. They have new physics …
La distribuzione di Maxwell-Boltzmann: i risultati di una sperimentazione svolta nell'ambito dei corsi di laurea in ingegneria
2011
This paper describes the outcomes of an teaching experiment conducted in the seminar held at the Faculty Engineering of Palermo University. The theme of the seminar focused on undergraduate experiment that yields the velocity distribution of thermionic electrons by analyzing the I-V characteristics of diodes and triodes. By using a simple model, the velocity distribution of thermionic electrons emitted by the vacuum tube cathode can be described by Maxwell's distribution. The experiment allows students to focus on the distribution function more than on difficulties arising from the complexity of thermionic emission. Questo articolo descrive i risultati di una sperimentazione didattica condo…
A teaching proposal for the didactics of Special Relativity: the spacetime globe
2022
Abstract Special Relativity introduces students to Modern Physics, whose importance in the high school is increasing. Nevertheless its teaching and learning is a critical issue. Different solutions have been developed to overcome the encountered difficulties. In this paper we describe the spacetime globe, a mechanical instrument that allows to experience Special Relativity hands-on. We show how it is possible to treat all the main phenomena foreseen by Special Relativity with simple laboratory experiences, using the idea of Minkowski’s spacetime diagrams. The aim is to develop the use of geometrical approach in learning Special Relativity in high schools.
The evolution and revival structure of angular momentum quantum wave packets (Tutorial)
1999
In this paper a coherent superposition of angular momentum states created by absorption of polarized light by molecules is analyzed. Attention is paid to the time evolution of wave packets representing spatial orientation of internuclear axis of diatomic molecule. Two examples are considered in detail. Molecules absorbing light in a permanent magnetic field experiencing Zeeman effect and molecules absorbing light in a permanent electric field experiencing quadratic Stark effect. In a magnetic field we have a wave packet that evolves in time exactly as classical dipole oscillator in a permanent magnetic field. In the second case we have the wave packet that goes through periodical changes of…
El modelo de Ausubel en la didáctica de la física : una aproximanción experimental al proceso de E/A de contenidos que presentan constructos poco ela…
1993
Resumen basado en el de la publicación Resumen en inglés Se muestran los resultados de una investigación sobre educación física sobre «Magnetismo» en la escuela secundaria. Se investiga un enfoque constructivista para el diseño instruccional basado en el modelo de Ausubel en el tratamiento de temas en el cual los alumnos tienen representaciones conceptuales pobres y marcos alternativos. Se muestran los primeros resultados con respecto al aprendizaje inmediato y duradero. ESP
Due 'paradossi meccanici' della Collezione Storica degli Strumenti di Fisica dell'Università di Palermo
2015
Many instruments of the Historical Collection of the Physics Instruments of the University of Palermo date back to the early nineteenth century, when experimental Physics begun to be taught in university studies by using instruments and apparatuses in the classroom to illustrate the laws of Physics. Among the various instruments belonging to the Collection, there are also the so-called 'paradoxes', instruments with surprising properties that do not seem to follow the laws of Physics. In this article we analyze two 'mechanical paradoxes' of the Collection and discuss their possible educational use.
Learner-generated drawings in physics education
2013
Different kinds of visual representations, such as graphs and drawings are important in education but especially in science education. Little attention is paid especially to drawings. Students are required to examine drawings and assimilate the information conveyed by them but not much attention is paid to the students’ own drawings. Arguments can be made for the importance of learner-generated drawings in science education. The subject of this thesis is the use of learner-generated drawings in physics education. A study was conducted to study the use of learner-generated drawings as a tool for meaning-making. The study involved 36 upper secondary school students who were given a drawing as…
Eye-Movement Study of Mechanics Problem Solving Using Multimodal Options
2020
We used an eye-tracking method to investigate students’ approaches to solving a physics task using various representations. Eight upper-secondary school students from Finland took part in the study. We found that students who preferred either the text or graph representations watched the options differently, but they used both representations to be sure of their solution. Transitions between text and graph alternatives were different for students preferring either text or graph representations. Interviews revealed typical misconceptions about the concept of force. Implications for physics instruction are presented. peerReviewed
An investigation of environmental temperature effects on energy exchange by thermal radiation
2013
The radiative heating or cooling of a body placed in an environment, whose temperature is considered constant is described by Stefan's law. In this paper, an analysis is made of how a time-dependent environmental temperature influences the heating/cooling process. We compare experimental results for a resistor first heated by the Joule effect inside a glass vacuum tube and then cooled under two different conditions: in a bath at a constant temperature and in air. We also discuss a model that describes how the time-dependent tube temperature influences the radiative resistor cooling by identifying the properties of the environment that make the resistor cooling rate linear.