Some advantages offered by the conceptual schemes of the irreversible processes thermodynamics in analysing different dissipative phenomena are summarised. The explicit time dependence of all variables and the introduction of new concepts such as the generalized fluxes and forces are the focus of a didactic approach which has been submitted to secondary school students. […]
After the introduction of Joule’s work, his paddle wheel experiment is analysed. The conceptual simplicity of this experimental apparatus makes itself a useful didactic model. Therefore its reproduction, the execution of the experiment and the possible didactic purposes will be described. […]
In 1855 Maxwell developed a formal analogy between the motion of an incompressible fluid, the electric current in a conductor, and the lines of force of a magnetic field. His analysis represents an example of interdisciplinary study of physical phenomena in the past, […]
This article describes two quantitative experiments about electromagnetic phenomena performed with an appropriate interface board connected to a computer on-line […]
A research has been performed in classroom settings, in order to test the didactic effectiveness of original teaching approach to Newtonian mechanics proposed in a previous paper. Two high school classes (students 14-15 years old) were involved in the teaching experiment. […]
We propose an unconventional teaching approach to newtonian mechanics at high school level (age 14-15). Force and energy concepts are simultaneously introduced from the very beginning and then developed through the teaching sequence, with increasing levels of differentiation and formalization. First we sketch basic lines of our proposal and then we suggest some experimental works to perform in classroom setting. […]
This paper discusses the new prescriptions for the Mathematics curriculum in the Italian highschools and presents possible learning activities based on research in education and on the UMI-SIS ‘Mathematics for citizenship’ proposals. […]
Adding a musical background to Galileo’s experiment in which a ball rolls along an inclined plane shows how Galileo might have obtained accurate results with the aid of his musical ear. In this historical context the students organize their measurements with unusual (but modernised) procedures. […]
The article describes a teaching proposal in which some fundamental properties of quantum systems are presented through the development of quantum cryptography protocols. The idea is the use of these properties as operational tools in a context that can stimulate students’ curiosity and interest. […]