Risultati della ricerca
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 La serendipità nella scoperta dei raggi X e della radioattività
At the end of 1895 Röntgen discovered x-rays while investigating cathode rays; in 1896 Becquerel was searching for penetrating radiations similar to x-rays when he found the uranium rays (radioactivity). The stories of both discoveries are briefly outlined and analyzed and the role of serendipity is discussed. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Correndo sotto la pioggia
The well known question: ‘is it better to walk or to run in the rain’? can be advantageously proposed to secondary school students. The paper illustrates a method for estimating the number of raindrops vs speed that fall on a moving surface. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 “Physics with a Smile”: spiegare fenomeni in modo amichevole risolvendo problemi qualitativi
A successful qualitative problem-solving strategy in mechanics that promotes a better understanding of basic physics concepts and of everyday phenomena is described. The strategy is suitable for 9th grade pupils and over. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Il problema dei cilindri di Senigallia 2008: approfondimenti e curiosità
An alternative solution to the first problem of the Italian national competition for the Physics Olympiads, based on the ‘Equivalence Principle’, is presented as a useful test-bench for all students. Some other questions about the same physical system, suitable for more skilful pupils, […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Perché studiare fisica e matematica?
Why should pupils who do not wish to become scientists study physics and mathematics in school and how should such knowledge be useful to those who will? Should these subjects only promote rigour and rationality? The author claims that the teacher should also transmit their elusive beauty and importance apart from practical applications. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Fisica in Barca
The project ‘Fisica in Barca’ (‘Boat Physics’), launched in 2005 and repeated a couple of years later, uses a large sailboat to promote the popularisation of physics. Young students sail along the Italian coasts from port to port, learning and experimenting the relevant physics on the way. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Un laboratorio all’aperto
The article suggests an easily reproducible statistical procedure for searching natural phenomena for regularities. […]
Anno XLII - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 2009 Un motore alternativo a vapore senza parti in movimento!
The working of a toy ‘chug-chug’ motor boat is described and scientifically analysed. […]
Anno XLI - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 2008 Bruno Touschek: pensare fisica in grande
A homage to Bruno Touschek, to his personal conception of physics as a creative enterprise and to his most important contribution: ADA, the small ingenious prototype of the great colliders of today. […]
Anno XLI - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 2008 Una proposta di introduzione storica intuitiva ai concetti entropici
Although irreversibility is an intuitive concept in many respects, formal approaches to entropy in secondary school physics are difficult to understand. The paper illustrates an historical approach based on Sadi Carnot?s hydraulic analogy (1824) between spatial and thermal levels. In analogy with a reversible hydraulic wheel, […]
Anno XLI - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 2008 Bernoulli? Forse, ma… e la viscosità?
Bernoulli?s principle is being misunderstood and consequently misused. This paper clarifies the issues involved, hypotheses as to how this unfortunate situation has arisen, provides sound explanations for many everyday phenomena involving moving air, and makes associated recommendations for teaching the effects of moving fluids. […]