Ion transport, involving the diffusion and migration of ions within the electrolyte, stands as a fundamental concept in electrochemistry and serves as the driving force for electrochemical reactions. Electric double layers are critical in the fields of electrochemical energy storage and chemical conversion, constituting a central focus of…

Simulations can provide opportunities for engaged exploration in physics teaching and learning. Beyond the two-dimensional world of screen-based simulations, abstract concepts like vectors (for example, of electric fields) can frequently be visualized better in a three-dimensional virtual reality (VR) environment. These visualizations can be…

Recent solar eclipses provide relevant real-world contexts for learning about the scientific phenomena of the lunar phases. News coverage of the phenomenon may have raised questions such as, "Why does the Moon look different at different times, and sometimes as if it is not there?," and "What patterns can be found in the lunar…

Enzymes are nature's catalysts, mediating chemical processes in living systems. The study of enzyme function and mechanism includes defining the maximum catalytic rate and affinity for substrate/s (among other factors), referred to as enzyme kinetics. Enzyme kinetics is a staple of biochemistry curricula and other disciplines, from molecular and…

This paper describes two examples of teaching situations in which the idea of infinity arises, and supports the conclusion that infinity is not a physical reality but a very powerful and useful mathematical device which facilitates modelling and the solution of problems in physics.

In this paper I describe an interactive Gauss's law computer simulation using the GlowScript programming environment. The simulation calculates a point charge's electric field at locations on the surface of a Gaussian cube and displays the electric field in GlowScript's 3D graphics window. The point charge can be moved, and the electric field…

Theoretical and practical foundations of basic electrochemical concepts of heterogeneous charge transfer reactions that underline electrochemical processes are presented for their detailed study by undergraduate and postgraduate students. Several simple methods for calculating key variables, such as the half-wave potential, limiting current, and…

In the past decade, we have witnessed the emergence of a large number of different computer-based animations and simulations that have the goal to foster better learning of different physics topics. Past studies have shown many benefits of animations and simulations, but for their efficient usage it is very important that teachers are well…

As intriguing optical phenomena that occur in nature, mirages are widely known and often mentioned in physics classes when introducing the basics of optics. In the atmosphere, a mirage occurs under the condition of vertical variations in air density, which are usually caused by a temperature gradient. The light rays are continuously refracted and…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the adoption of online laboratories. The present article discusses the virtual laboratories used by students. The questions posed by students provided targeted teaching opportunities.

Understanding the physicochemical properties of organic compounds with potential biological uses is central in current research topics. Thus, students must pursue the integration of different fields of chemistry to obtain and understand the physicochemical parameters that characterize the mechanism of action of key organics compounds. This…

The Databank of Dynamics Trajectories (DDT, notthatddt.org) was established to assist students in visualizing the dynamical behaviors occurring during chemical reactions and conformational changes, with a focus on processes taught in introductory organic chemistry classes. Animations of reacting molecules created using "ab initio"…

The flow of air around a baseball and over the seam acts to slow the ball and to deflect it sideways. Turbulent flow can be visualized, and sideways deflection of the ball can be observed clearly if the ball is dropped in a glass fish tank and filmed with a high-speed camera. Results are presented for a baseball and also for a billiard ball with a…

The nature and cause of the phases of the moon are widely misunderstood. Perhaps the problem is a general decline in scientific literacy, or maybe it is the loss of direct and regular observation of the moon in society generally. Many people do not see the moon as a half-illuminated sphere. Adults are often surprised to realize that the moon can…

Despite the growing importance of nanomaterials in numerous industries, most undergraduate chemistry students are unlikely to encounter characterization techniques common in the field during their education. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a common technique for materials characterization widely used in careers chemistry students are likely…