Smartphones are currently proposed as potential portable laboratories to perform a wide variety of physical experiments for teaching purpose. However, the frequent lack of clarity about the ease of replication of the experiments and on their accuracy often limits their effective use. In this work we deeply compare several smartphone-based…

One of the main topics of elementary physics is the idea that every material is composed of "little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one other." These particles could be atoms or molecules. Atoms are the smallest part into…

Fermat's principle states that a light ray refracted across different media will traverse the fastest path as the physics for Snell's law. A geometric proof of Fermat's principle will be demonstrated as an intuitive approach to learn high school geometry and physical optics. It will be proved explicitly by showing that all alternative paths need…

The purpose of this study is to consider Superman's acts against impulse-momentum and conservation of momentum principles. Superheroes as fantasy fiction characters attract the attention of not only children and teenagers but also adults. Superheroes can be useful in explaining a phenomenon, as well as overcoming conceptual difficulties that may…

Current education paradigms were informed by the classical Newtonian worldview of brain functioning in which the mind is simply the physical activity of the brain, and our thoughts cannot have any effect upon the physical world. However, researchers in the field of quantum mechanics found that the outcomes of certain subatomic experiments are…

Student understanding of the laws that describe the flow of a fluid is often hampered by a defective knowledge of basic classical mechanics (kinematics, statics, dynamics, and conservation laws) and by wrong common-sense ideas about quantities related to fluids, such as velocity and pressure. A pedagogical discussion about the Venturi effect,…

Sound is an interesting topic for physics lessons at all ages. However, it is difficult to illustrate this ubiquitous phenomenon and many models do not adequately represent the properties of sound and thus promote unwanted conceptions. The experiment presented here avoids this by visualising sound itself with the help of the schlieren technique.…

In this paper I explain how I usually introduce the Schrödinger equation during the quantum mechanics course. My preferred method is the chronological one. Since the Schrödinger equation belongs to a special case of wave equations I start the course with introducing the wave equation. The Schrödinger equation is derived with the help of the two…

In this paper, we present the spontaneous and reasoned approaches by a Physicist (B.C.) and a Mathematician (T.B.). Section 1 is by B.C and section 2 is by T.B.

This dissertation focuses on three different populations of learners served by typical physics departments: STEM majors within a calculus-based introductory physics course, non-STEM majors within a general education survey astronomy course (Astro 101), and in- service STEM teachers within a professional development workshop. The three studies…

Most people are familiar with arc discharges through the use of simple gas lighters within the home but corona discharges are not so common. This note presents students with three simple corona discharge experiments so that they can appreciate this form of electrical discharge. Firstly, one detects whether positive or negative ions are created;…

Given the great interest that black holes arouse among non-specialists, it is important to analyse misconceptions related to them. According to the author, the most common misconceptions are that: (1) black holes are formed from stellar collapse; (2) they are very massive; (3) they are very dense; (4) their gravity absorbs everything; and (5) they…

A spinning top with a spherical bottom end was constructed to examine its behaviour. Experimental results were consistent with theoretical predictions.

A simple and economical system that allows one to obtain the characteristic "I-V" curve in solar cells is presented. It is a computer-controlled system suitable as an instrumentation project for students who are learning about photovoltaic systems. This system is based on the use of an "R-3R" ladder circuit as a variable…

In this paper we derive and discuss the time it takes for a force to turn a velocity. More precisely, we derive the formula for the time t it takes a constant force that makes an angle a with the initial velocity v(0) to have v(Tau) get within an angle ? < a of the force. We then show how the addition of a viscous force decreases Tau…