Proteins are "magical" workers inside our body, as they accomplish most of the cellular functions. Here we report on a novel approach to teach protein folding and unfolding, using magnets and flexible 3D-printed protein structures. To illustrate this physical process, we used colored circular magnets designed for whiteboards, connected…

Simple mathematical models can serve to reveal the essence of experimental phenomena and scientific concepts. The particle in a box (PIB), for example, is widely used in undergraduate programs to teach the quantum mechanical principles behind the UV--vis spectra of conjugated polyenes and polyynes. In this work, the particle on a ring (POR) and…

Although designed for informal educational structures and non-formal providers, the AeroEducate initiative offers youth in a variety of settings an initial exposure to the world of aviation and aeronautics. Real-world and context-based experiences spark learners' interests and may help them discover a personal and/or professional passion for the…

We propose an innovative approach to teaching friction. Our approach aims to educate students on its microscopic nature by highlighting its origin in intermolecular interactions. We have designed a teaching sequence (TS) based on a set of experimental investigations of the properties of a gecko-inspired tape at different length scales. The TS has…

O•, O[subscript 2] and O[subscript 3] play vital roles in the Earth's atmosphere, regulating ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and being essential for life. However, the oxygen family, O•, O[subscript 2] and O[subscript 3], also provides a source of the HO radical, the atmospheric detergent that removes pollutants from the atmosphere. This…

Despite being established as genuine physical features of the universe, black holes are not well understood at a non-technical level. Basic features of black holes are outlined, a few of the more popular misconceptions surrounding them are listed and their errors identified.

With the rapid spread of high-speed railway technology, there is a resurgence of interest in trains and railways. The main propulsive engine for railways was the steam engine for over a century, which gave way to the diesel and electrical engines. The steam engine was crucial to the birth and development of the railway industry, and understanding…

Heating a fluid causes a local expansion and the resulting buoyance of the rarefied fluid drives it upward. This phenomenon roughly defines heat convection. Convection is fairly well known due to our familiarity with a large number of convection systems in open air like candles, bonfires, barbecue grills, boiling pans, hot air balloons, etc. Most…

In this paper we present a study on the capillary action of water in a glass tube. It is a well-known phenomenon that the rise of a water column in the capillary is governed by parameters such as surface tension of water, radius of the tube, density of water and acceleration due to gravity. The interdependence of the parameters gives rise to the…

This study sought to develop and evaluate an online module based on inquiry learning with digital laboratories, which was intended to address students' misconceptions in a science domain. In a quasi-experimental design, 171 first-year students in a higher education introductory physics course on circular motion were as their existing groups…

At the end of 2022, there were 2439 coal-fired power plants operating around the world, and over 7000 active coal mines (Global Energy Monitor, 2022). Coal burning was the largest source of greenhouse gases that impact climate change, and coal mining caused extensive environmental damage (US Energy and Information Administration, 2022). Decisions…

Concept mapping remains widely used in education. However, little is known about how self-constructed concept maps and peer feedback can improve student learning outcomes in chemistry. We investigated the effects of peer feedback on concept mapping and how it improves students' learning performance in a large second-semester, introductory…

Many studies have characterized students' difficulties in understanding and reasoning about scientific mechanisms. Some of those studies have drawn implications on teaching mechanisms and how to guide students while reasoning mechanistically. In this theoretical article, I claim that one component that has not garnered much attention in the…

Explaining natural phenomena by determining causal relationships is conducive to understanding scientific concepts. In science education, numerous studies examine students' causal reasoning. Given the importance of core ideas for students' understanding of how and why a phenomenon occurs, the study focused on the relationship between students'…

Circus art excites amazes and delights. Most of circus genres are based on the principles of classical physics. Dialogic discussions are known as an instrument to identify conceptual barriers (misconceptions) and facilitate their further revision. The present study integrates the three worlds: physics education, dialogic teaching and circus art;…