The first law of thermodynamics involves several types of energies and many studies have shown that students lack awareness of them. They have difficulties in applying the law to different thermodynamic processes. These observations were confirmed in our pilot studies, carried out with students from undergraduate colleges across the whole of…

Flotation is usually taught in Indian schools after students have been introduced to the concepts of mass, density, pressure, volume and buoyancy. This paper describes an attempt to teach the principle of flotation to a class of sixth graders--who had not yet been taught these concepts--so they could understand (and perhaps, arrive at) Archimedes'…

Physics educators generally seek the best approach to make learning process effective for learners. The major objective of this study is to verify the extent of using inquiry-based instructional strategies in higher secondary physics classrooms, and to support the use of inquiry-based instructional strategies to effectively describe the nature of…

In the wake of increasing evidence that students' positive attitudes towards science particularly in chemistry and physics change strikingly as they move up in school, this study explores student perception of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that make them feel cognitive load in learning physics, chemistry and biology resulting in difficulty to…

The fact that the future of a nation lies in the hands of its knowledgeable, technologically skilled, and civilized citizens is irrefutable. Secondary schools are primary centers for acquiring academic excellence as well as essential life skills. With each student being unique in his ability, learning styles, and social background, diverse…

This article is a qualitative study, which was done in 2013-2014. In this study using a comparative study was conducted to compare physics curriculum elements of Iran with the countries studied. Countries studied: Singapore, Turkey, India, England and Australia have diverse educational system. In this study, the structure of the educational…

This article presents an instructional strategy called Premise-Reasoning- Outcome (PRO) designed to support students in the construction of scientific explanations. Informed by the philosophy of science and linguistic studies of science, the PRO strategy involves identifying three components of a scientific explanation: (i) premise--an accepted…

The one-dimensional finite well is a textbook problem. We propose approximate approaches to obtain the energy levels of the well. The finite well is also encountered in semiconductor heterostructures where the carrier mass inside the well (m[subscript i]) is taken to be distinct from mass outside (m[subscript o]). A relevant parameter is the mass…

A simple, flexible and very low cost hardware plus software framework for developing computer-interfaced science experiments is presented. It can be used for developing computer-interfaced science experiments without getting into the details of electronics or computer programming. For developing experiments this is a middle path between…

The reaction time of a group of students majoring in physics is reported here. Strong correlation between fatigue, reaction time and performance has been observed and may be useful for academicians and administrators responsible for working out timetables, course structures, student counsellings, etc. (Contains 5 figures, 1 table, and 1 footnote.)

Science should not be presented as a collection of facts; it must be presented as an active dynamic subject. It should be used to stimulate young minds and encourage questioning. This is a publication designed to meet the needs of science teachers for a day-to-day reference in science. It was intended for the use of Peace Corps volunteers and…

Science should not be presented as a collection of facts; it must be presented as an active dynamic subject. It should be used to stimulate young minds and encourage questioning. This is a publication designed to meet the needs of science teachers for a day-to-day reference in science. It was intended for the use of Peace Corps volunteers and…

Science should not be presented as a collection of facts; it must be presented as an active dynamic subject. It should be used to stimulate young minds and encourage questioning. This is a publication designed to meet the needs of science teachers for a day-to-day reference in science. It was intended for the use of Peace Corps volunteers and…