Articoli rivista
Cultura
Anno XXVI - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 1993 Geometria dello spazio-tempo e paradossi relativistici
The classical skier paradox is revisited, with the aim of showing that a strictly geometric approach (i.e. one that makes no use of Lorentz transformations and the like) is more apt at revealing the true nature of the physical problem being studied. […]
Anno XXVIII - n.2 - aprile/giugno 1995 Giorno solare vero e giorno solare medio: misura del tempo con una meridiana
Because of the change of Earth’s revolution velocity, true solar time shows small periodic fluctuations compared with mean solar time, measurable with watches. Studying the Earth’s motion we can calculate this time difference (known as the equation of time) and moreover we can understand how sun-dials marking true solar time work. […]
Anno XXIX - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 1996 I cambiamenti concettuali nella chimica dopo l’avvento della meccanica quantistica
Although the methods of quantum mechanics may be usefully employed in studying the physics of molecules, they are unable to solve some typical chemical problems such as predicting the outcomes of new synthetic processes. The reason for this is the lack of a satisfactory quantum mechanical description of the time evolution of transformation processes in complex systems. […]
Anno XXIV - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 1991 Il caos deterministico
The phenomena of deterministic chaos and fractal geometry are described in a simple and “naive” form, with the main purpose of stressing the great significance of theory in the context of deterministic chaos and pointing out the role of the mathematical tool in determining a framework capable of describing and explaining many natural phenomena. […]
Anno XXXII - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 1999 Il macroscopio:una versione didattica del microscopio a scansione di forza
We describe an home-made device simulating, at macroscopic level, the behavior of a scanning force microscope, that we suggest to use for didactic purposes aimed at clarify genesis and meaning of the electronic images, frequently found in textbooks. […]
Anno XXXI - n.1 - gennaio/marzo 1998 Il quaderno di appunti zurighese di Einstein e la scoperta delle equazioni del campo della gravitazione nell’anno 1912
Einstein worked eight years (from 1907 to 1915) to obtain an extension of special relativity to accelerated frames and to develop a relativistic theory of gravitation. Although the field equations of the theory of general relativity appeared at the end as a full realization of the heuristic assumptions he had formulated at an early stage of his investigations, […]
Anno XXV - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 1992 Immagini del sapere e formazione scientifica
This article discusses what conceptions of knowledge are basic to the performance of scientific activities. It explores the complexity of the processes by which scientific knowledge is built and their relationship with the affective domain and with common sense knowledge. It examines the implications of a totally constructivist perspective on science learning, […]
Anno XXXII - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 1999 Insegnare fisica per nuclei fondanti: un esempio riferito al concetto di spazio
The paper presents a study aimed at constructing a “physics for teaching”. The study concerns an analysis of the physical contents of spacetime theories carried out from the perspective of designing conceptual paths moving from classical mechanics to general relativity. An example of paths is presented and their main features are pointed out. […]
Anno XLVII - n.4 - ottobre/dicembre 2014 “Io dico l’universo” (Parlare a scuola dell’evoluzione stellare)
The following contribution to the last AIF’s Congress outlines a concise didactic excursus on stellar evolution suitable for secondary school students. The proposal, following Galileo’s suggestion about the “book of the Universe”, invites to get the relevance of the study about the origins and of an evolutive process resulting in our very existence. […]
Anno XLVI - n.3 - luglio/settembre 2013 Joseph Louis Lagrange a duecento anni dalla morte
The Piedmontese mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange died in Paris 200 years ago. His interesting life and his scientific achievements are recalled and described […]