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Leone, M.; Robotti, N.; Verna, G. – Physics Education, 2018
The so-called "Rutherford's experiment," as it is outlined in many physics textbooks, is a case in point of the flaws around the history at the educational level of one of the decisive event of modern physics: the discovery that the atom has a nucleus. This paper shows that this alleged experiment is a very approximate and very partial…
Descriptors: Science Experiments, Textbooks, Scientific Principles, Models
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Puri, Avi – Physics Education, 2016
The question in the title above is exploited to analyse the relationship between different astronomical models and frames of reference. The paper highlights the fact that the geostatic model, the favoured model in ordinary discourse, even that of scientists, is at odds with two cherished principles, that of the rectilinear propagation of light,…
Descriptors: Astronomy, Models, Scientific Principles, Light
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Menger, Fredric M.; Rizvi, Syed A. A. – Physics Education, 2016
The motions of Newton's cradle, consisting of several steel balls hanging side-by-side, have been analysed in terms of a sound pulse that travels via points of contact among the balls. This presupposes a focused energy beam. When the pulse reaches the fifth and final ball, the energy disperses and dislocates the ball with a trajectory equivalent…
Descriptors: Physics, Motion, Kinetics, Science Experiments
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Xu, Beichen; Su, Jun; Wang, Weiguo – Physics Education, 2018
Cosmic expansion is an important concept in astronomy. For ease of understanding, astronomers generally draw an analogy between cosmic expansion and the expansion of a spherical surface in 3D space. This study theoretically and experimentally investigates the laws governing the motion of particles on the surface of a balloon during expansion.…
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Astronomy, Motion
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Woithe, Julia; Wiener, Gerfried J.; Van der Veken, Frederik F. – Physics Education, 2017
The Standard Model of particle physics is one of the most successful theories in physics and describes the fundamental interactions between elementary particles. It is encoded in a compact description, the so-called "Lagrangian," which even fits on t-shirts and coffee mugs. This mathematical formulation, however, is complex and only…
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Visual Aids, Models
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Kaur, Tejinder; Blair, David; Moschilla, John; Zadnik, Marjan – Physics Education, 2017
The Einstein-First project approaches the teaching of Einsteinian physics through the use of physical models and analogies. This paper presents an approach to the teaching of quantum physics which begins by emphasising the particle-nature of light through the use of toy projectiles to represent photons. This allows key concepts including the…
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Physics, Scientific Principles, Probability
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Rovšek, Barbara; Guštin, Andrej – Physics Education, 2018
An astronomy "experiment" composed of three parts is described in the article. Being given necessary data a simple model of inner planets of the solar system is made in the first part with planets' circular orbits using appropriate scale. In the second part revolution of the figurines used as model representations of the planets along…
Descriptors: Motion, Scientific Concepts, Scientific Principles, Science Activities
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Eshach, H.; Volfson, A. – Physics Education, 2015
In the present paper we suggest an original physical explanatory model that explains the mechanism of the sound amplification process in a stethoscope. We discuss the amplification of a single pulse, a continuous wave of certain frequency, and finally we address the resonant frequencies. It is our belief that this model may provide students with…
Descriptors: Acoustics, Physics, Models, Science Equipment
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Mayer, V. V.; Varaksina, E. I. – Physics Education, 2014
Students form a more exact idea of the action of optical mirrors if they can observe the wave field being formed during reflection. For this purpose it is possible to organize model experiments with flexural waves propagating in thin elastic plates. The direct and round edges of the plates are used as models of plane, convex and concave mirrors.…
Descriptors: Optics, Acoustics, Models, Science Experiments
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Rodrigues, Hilário; Panza, Nelson; Portes, Dirceu; Soares, Alexandre – Physics Education, 2014
This paper is essentially about the general form of Newton's second law for variable mass problems. We develop a model for describing the motion of the one-dimensional oscillator with a variable mass within the framework of classroom physics. We present a simple numerical procedure for the solution of the equation of motion of the system to…
Descriptors: Physics, Scientific Principles, Models, Mechanics (Physics)
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Prytz, Kjell – Physics Education, 2015
Creative learning is discussed with respect to a specific physics topic. A teaching example, based on an apparatus that demonstrates the standard dynamo model of geomagnetism, is presented. It features many of the basic physics concepts within the syllabus of electromagnetism at high-school and university. To stimulate conceptual learning and to…
Descriptors: Physics, Teaching Methods, Units of Study, Electromechanical Technology
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Corni, Federico; Giliberti, Enrico – Physics Education, 2009
We propose a laboratory learning pathway, suitable for secondary school up to introductory undergraduate level, employing the VnR dynamic modelling software. It is composed of three increasingly complex activities dealing with experimental work, model design and discussion. (Contains 4 footnotes, 1 table and 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Laboratory Experiments, Mathematical Formulas, Scientific Principles, Models
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O'Shea, Michael J. – Physics Education, 2009
A point mass model of a climber ascending a rock slope is developed. Stability of the climber is defined via the maximum possible friction force exerted by the feet of the climber on rock and the maximum possible force that the hands of the climber can support in a handhold. This model is then generalized to a somewhat more realistic extended mass…
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Scientific Principles, Models
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Spathopoulos, Vassilios McInnes – Physics Education, 2010
Anything that can capture the interest of students can be used to enhance the teaching of physics, and sport is practised, watched and followed fanatically by almost every young person. At the same time, in recent years, a wealth of research data has become available from the field of sports science. The purpose of this article is to draw from…
Descriptors: Athletics, Cultural Activities, Models, Physics
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Heck, Andre; Uylings, Peter; Kedzierska, Ewa – Physics Education, 2010
Changing mass phenomena like the motion of a falling chain, the behaviour of a falling elastic bar or spring, and the motion of a bungee jumper surprise many a physicist. In this article we discuss the first phase of bungee jumping, when the bungee jumper falls, but the bungee rope is still slack. In instructional material this phase is often…
Descriptors: Physics, Motion, Secondary School Science, Scientific Principles
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