Anno XXXI - n.3 - luglio/settembre 1998 The multimedial software “Inside the Atom” introduces atomic structure through an historical perspective. A test was carried out with fourth year students of a scientific highschool aimed at: (1) finding what difference in learning was achieved by using the software, with respect to traditional practice; […]
Anno LI - n.3-4 - luglio/dicembre 2018 This experiment consists in the measurement of the oscillation period of a rigid pendulum by using the accelerometer of a smartphone and an ultrasound motion sensor […]
Anno LI - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2018 In this paper we present an experimental didactic approach to the study of cosmic rays with special focus on their interaction with the geomagnetic field of the Earth. The technique presented for the determination of the asymmetry of the flow coming from the east and the one from the west gives the possibility to introduce also concepts of statistics and processing useful data in experimental physics taught in high schools. […]
Anno XLVI - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 2013 A didactical approach to the elliptical motion of planets in the solar system is proposed. The planets’ velocities in apsidal points and the total mechanical energy of the two-body systems are discussed and described as functions of orbital parameters. Kepler’s third law is obtained from energy and angular momentum conservation principles. […]
Anno XXXI - n.3 - luglio/settembre 1998 Understanding what the orbit of the Moon look like when viewed from the reference frame of the Sun presents some difficulties to highschool students. The approach described in this paper to the correct representation of the Moon’s trajectory is an example of how a physics problem can be schematized an simplified. […]
Anno XLVII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2014 When is radiation important in the discharge of a capacitor? When is it negligible? The answer depends on many geometrical and physical parameters. Reasonable estimates and suitable approximations/schematizations find that the radiated energy is negligible compared to the Joule dissipation unless a small capacitance is used and the circuit is a loop comparable in size to the capacitor. […]
Anno XXIV - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 1991 A short phenomenological description of the behaviour of the classic low-temperature superconductors is given. A brief history of the progresses achieved during the past half century in the search of “high temperature superconductors” introduces to the recent discovery of the new ceramic superconductors. […]
Anno XLV - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2012 Most introductory physics students spend the majority of their time in passive and often crowded lectures. Studies show that students learn little in such classes. The results of education research have led to the design of active learning environments (often making use of computer-assisted data acquisition tools). […]