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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Framework For The Natures Of Negativity In Introductory Physics, Suzanne W. Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Trevor I. Smith, Andrew Boudreaux Apr 2020

Framework For The Natures Of Negativity In Introductory Physics, Suzanne W. Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Trevor I. Smith, Andrew Boudreaux

Physics & Astronomy

Mathematical reasoning skills are a desired outcome of many introductory physics courses, particularly calculus-based physics courses. Novices can struggle to understand the many roles signed numbers play in physics contexts, and recent evidence shows that unresolved struggle can carry over to subsequent physics courses. Positive and negative quantities are ubiquitous in physics, and the sign carries important and varied meanings. The mathematics education research literature documents the cognitive challenge of conceptualizing negative numbers as mathematical objects—both for experts, historically, and for novices as they learn. We contribute to the small but growing body of research in physics contexts that examines …


Framework For The Natures Of Negativity In Introductory Physics, Suzanne White Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Trevor Smith, Andrew Boudreaux Apr 2020

Framework For The Natures Of Negativity In Introductory Physics, Suzanne White Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Trevor Smith, Andrew Boudreaux

Faculty Scholarship for the College of Science & Mathematics

Mathematical reasoning skills are a desired outcome of many introductory physics courses, particularly calculus-based physics courses. Novices can struggle to understand the many roles signed numbers play in physics contexts, and recent evidence shows that unresolved struggle can carry over to subsequent physics courses. Positive and negative quantities are ubiquitous in physics, and the sign carries important and varied meanings. The mathematics education research literature documents the cognitive challenge of conceptualizing negative numbers as mathematical objects—both for experts, historically, and for novices as they learn. We contribute to the small but growing body of research in physics contexts that examines …


Phy 502 - Shared Sheet, Jim Mcclymer Apr 2020

Phy 502 - Shared Sheet, Jim Mcclymer

Teaching, Learning & Research Documents

An example of a Shared Sheet that students in PHY 502 worked on together through ZOOM to answer questions related to how Maxwell’s Equations would be modified if photons had mass.


Got Science? Club, Nora Husein, Randa Ismail Apr 2020

Got Science? Club, Nora Husein, Randa Ismail

Honors Expanded Learning Clubs

Got Science? Club allows students to learn about the science that can be found in our daily lives using everyday items such as food and school supplies. Students will learn about these sciences through hands-on experiments, allowing them to truly experience the science around them.


Systematic Errors In Video Analysis, Tim Martin, Kayt Frisch, John Zwart Mar 2020

Systematic Errors In Video Analysis, Tim Martin, Kayt Frisch, John Zwart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Video analysis helps students to connect physical, mathematical, and graphical models with the phenomena that the models represent and improves student kinematic graph interpretation skills. The wide-spread availability of easy to use software packages like Logger Pro (Vernier), Capstone (PASCO), and Tracker have led to many introductory physics courses adopting video analysis techniques in the classroom. Such uses include high-speed cameras to study rocket launches and other innovative applications. In this paper, we will look at ways in which some common systematic errors can affect outcomes.


Conceptual Change By Fiat?, Dewey I. Dykstra Mar 2020

Conceptual Change By Fiat?, Dewey I. Dykstra

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

What Murphy and Gash are attempting to do is to solve a significant problem some students have being successful in school, one that is not often addressed in any significant way. The language used to describe the lessons has some significant departures from radical constructivism. It is, no doubt, beneficial that the students in the study may have developed improvements in self-image, but, as seen in other work, the application of radical constructivism to develop and extend the work started in the study could result in more and more lasting improvements.


Designing Writing Intensive Upper Division Laboratories In Physics, Sara Callori Feb 2020

Designing Writing Intensive Upper Division Laboratories In Physics, Sara Callori

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

California State University San Bernardino is currently transitioning from quarters to semesters, starting in Fall 2020. As part of this transition, the Department of Physics has transformed its curriculum to better suit the needs of its students. One major facet of this redesign has been the creation of two writing intensive, upper division laboratory courses. From a practical standpoint, under the revamped general education program, we are able to incorporate upper division writing into the major. More importantly, there are many benefits where having a writing-intensive major course aligns with program goals and professional organization recommendations. This includes designing activities …


Impact Of The Next Gen Pet Curriculum On Science Identity, Robynne M. Lock, Ben Van Dusen, Steven Maier, Liang Zeng Jan 2020

Impact Of The Next Gen Pet Curriculum On Science Identity, Robynne M. Lock, Ben Van Dusen, Steven Maier, Liang Zeng

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Next Gen Physical Science and Everyday Thinking (PET) curriculum was designed for physical science courses for future elementary teachers. However, this curriculum may also be used in general education conceptual science courses. The materials are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and use a guided-inquiry approach. Next Gen PET is currently being implemented at many universities nationwide. We examine the impact of this curriculum on students’ science identities at a subset of these universities. The identity framework consists of three dimensions. Recognition is the extent to which a student believes that parents, peers, and professors view them as …


Agenda, Shubha Tewari Jan 2020

Agenda, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Abstracts for six Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars.


Arduino Microcontrollers In The Classroom: Teaching How To Phrase Effective Science Questions And How To Answer Them With Original Data, Tony Dinsmore Jan 2020

Arduino Microcontrollers In The Classroom: Teaching How To Phrase Effective Science Questions And How To Answer Them With Original Data, Tony Dinsmore

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Arduino microcontrollers in the classroom: teaching how to phrase effective science questions and how to answer them with original data. Prof. Tony Dinsmore, UMass Physics This workshop will develop course modules that address a challenge in the science curriculum: how do we teach basic problem-solving and curiosity-based research skills in a classroom setting? The standard science curriculum teaches concepts and theory quite well but leaves rather little opportunity for students to take the lead in designing and implementing their own investigations. The workshop will use the Arduino, an inexpensive microcontroller that is simple to set up. A huge range of …


Agenda, Revised, Shubha Tewari Jan 2020

Agenda, Revised, Shubha Tewari

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Materials from the seminars. The agenda was revised to include online sessions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Fostering Physics Content And Pedagogy Learning By Future Physics Teachers Via Student Authored Youtube Video Projects, David Abbott, Dan L. Macisaac, Brad Gearhart, Kathleen Falconer, Florian Genz, Andre Bresges, Stefan Hoffmann, Jeremias Weber Jan 2020

Fostering Physics Content And Pedagogy Learning By Future Physics Teachers Via Student Authored Youtube Video Projects, David Abbott, Dan L. Macisaac, Brad Gearhart, Kathleen Falconer, Florian Genz, Andre Bresges, Stefan Hoffmann, Jeremias Weber

Videos for Physics Teaching

We describe a curricular innovation for STEM teacher preparation -- the use of video projects in undergraduate and graduate physics courses for future physics teachers at SUNY Buffalo State. US courses were adapted under the guidance of our colleagues’ similar work at Universität zu Köln [1]. Our students prepared end of course short “proof of concept” rough video vignettes of 5-10min addressing both physics content and physics pedagogical topics. YouTube [2] example videos are provided, and insights are shared.


Question 1: Plowing Snow; Question 2: Wasted Food, Larry Weinstein Jan 2020

Question 1: Plowing Snow; Question 2: Wasted Food, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

[Extracted from the article] How much snow is shoveled or plowed in the U.S. in a typical winter? How much food is wasted at school cafeterias every year in the U.S.? For more Fermi questions and answers, see Guesstimation 2.0: Solving Today's Problems on the Back of a Napkin, by Lawrence Weinstein (Princeton University Press, 2012).


Impact Of Out-Of-Class Science And Engineering Activities On Physics Identity And Career Intentions, Robynne M. Lock, Zahra Hazari, Geoff Potvin Oct 2019

Impact Of Out-Of-Class Science And Engineering Activities On Physics Identity And Career Intentions, Robynne M. Lock, Zahra Hazari, Geoff Potvin

Department of Teaching and Learning

The number of physics bachelor’s degrees that are awarded in the United States annually is small compared to most other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, and only about one-fifth of these degrees are awarded to women. Understanding the influence of students’ science and engineering experiences on career choices is critical in order to improve future efforts to increase the number of physics majors and the participation of women. In this work, we use a physics identity framework to examine the impact of out-of-class science and engineering activities on three identity dimensions and the relationship between these dimensions and physics …


Fostering Computational Thinking In An Introductory Physics Lab, Diana Sachmpazidi Sep 2019

Fostering Computational Thinking In An Introductory Physics Lab, Diana Sachmpazidi

STEM Instructional Graduate Teaching Assistant Posters

•Thinking computationally means conceptualizing a problem and formulating it in a way that a computer can solve it (Wing, 2010). •Computational Thinking (CT) is the third pillar of the scientific method along with theory and experimentation and is a fundamental skill that K-12 students and undergraduates should be equipped with (Wing, 2016; 2006). •Research on CT has only been active the last 10 years and most studies are still at the stage of ideas (Kalelioglu et al., 2016). •The integration of CT aspects in instruction is a widely expanding phenomenon in physics classrooms in the context of higher education, and …


Games: Glass And Materials Science To Engage Students, M. A. Liggett, Kateryna Swan Jul 2019

Games: Glass And Materials Science To Engage Students, M. A. Liggett, Kateryna Swan

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

Materials science is the study of the properties of matter and its applications in optics, chemistry, physics, and civil, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering. The broad field of materials science and the complex ideas that can be included in it are typically introduced into formal education at the college level, but recently there has been a push for younger students to also have exposure to materials science. In this project, we used the techniques demonstrated in First Physics to expose students, ages 9-15, to materials science. Our hypothesis was that by using these techniques, higher level concepts can be broken …


Using Forensics To Introduce Ir Spectroscopy & Molecular Modeling, Joseph T. Golab Jul 2019

Using Forensics To Introduce Ir Spectroscopy & Molecular Modeling, Joseph T. Golab

Faculty Publications & Research

A student activity is reported that analyzes “medical evidence” with experimental and computational methods. The lesson demonstrates benefits of solving practical problems with integrated tools.


Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom May 2019

Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom

University Scholar Projects

Students often enter the physics classroom with intuitive conceptions drawn from real life experiences or former coursework, and may be hesitant or reluctant to re-evaluate these mindsets in favor of formally instructed knowledge. The goal of introductory physics courses is not only to teach and expose students to new content, but also to cultivate students’ ability to reason through and derive content knowledge through personal inquiry. This scientific process necessitates one’s abilities to be open-minded in terms of hearing evidence that contradicts his or her personal opinion, to be willing to discard any original misconceptions in the face of such …


Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom May 2019

Analyzing The Mindsets And Behaviors Of Introductory Physics Students Through The Lens Of Intellectual Humility, Meagan Sundstrom

Honors Scholar Theses

Students often enter the physics classroom with intuitive conceptions drawn from real life experiences or former coursework, and may be hesitant or reluctant to re-evaluate these mindsets in favor of formally instructed knowledge. The goal of introductory physics courses is not only to teach and expose students to new content, but also to cultivate students’ ability to reason through and derive content knowledge through personal inquiry. This scientific process necessitates one’s abilities to be open-minded in terms of hearing evidence that contradicts his or her personal opinion, to be willing to discard any original misconceptions in the face of such …


2019 Patterns Around Us Handout, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Wayne Kermenski, Jennifer Welborn Jan 2019

2019 Patterns Around Us Handout, Benjamin Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon, Wayne Kermenski, Jennifer Welborn

Patterns Around Us

This is a FREE two-day program designed for Middle and High School General Science, Biology, Physics, Technology/Engineering teachers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation.Space is limited, so apply soon! Some limited funding is available for overnight stay.

“Science may be described as the attempt to give good accounts of the patterns in nature. The result of scientific investigation is an understanding of natural processes.... Overall, the key criterion of science is that it provides a clear, rational, and succinct account of a pattern in nature....” Massachusetts State Frameworks for Science and Technology.

Participants will explore the processes of …


Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman Jan 2019

Solar Cells, D. Venkataraman

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Solar cells convert the sun's energy into electrical energy. In this workshop, I will discuss the processes involved in solar cell and various types of solar cells that are being developed as an alternative to silicon solar cells. I will also demonstrate how students can build a solar cell from readily available materials.


Ua66/11/1 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Publications, Wku Archives Jan 2019

Ua66/11/1 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Publications, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Publications by and about the Department of Physics and Astronomy.


Ua66/11/2 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Administration, Wku Archives Jan 2019

Ua66/11/2 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Physics & Astronomy Administration, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about the administration of Physics and Astronomy.


Question 1: Losing Weight; Question 2: Artificial Moon, Larry Weinstein Jan 2019

Question 1: Losing Weight; Question 2: Artificial Moon, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

The article presents questions related to Fermi which include mass lost by Sun over its lifetime; and size of artificial satellite needed to provide as much illumination as a full moon.


Spectroscopy Of Neon For The Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, H. C. Busch, M. B. Cooper, C. I. Sukenik Jan 2019

Spectroscopy Of Neon For The Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, H. C. Busch, M. B. Cooper, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We describe a spectroscopy experiment, suitable for upper-division laboratory courses, that investigates saturated absorption spectroscopy and polarization spectroscopy in a neon discharge. Both experiments use nearly identical components, allowing students to explore both techniques in a single apparatus. Furthermore, because the wavelength of the laser is in the visible part of the spectrum (640 nm), the experiment is well-suited for students with limited experience in optical alignment. The labs nicely complement a course in atomic or plasma physics, provide students with the opportunity to gain important technical skills in the area of optics and lasers, and can provide an introduction …


Application Of Bradford’S Law Of Scattering On Research Publication In Astronomy & Astrophysics Of India, Satish Kumar, Senthilkumar R. Dec 2018

Application Of Bradford’S Law Of Scattering On Research Publication In Astronomy & Astrophysics Of India, Satish Kumar, Senthilkumar R.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study is focused on examining the application of Bradford’s law of scattering on research articles published in the field of Astronomy & Astrophysics by Indian scientist during 1988-2017. The bibliographic data was retrieved from Web of Science (WoS) bibliographic data base for different period of time. Total 18,877 journal’s article have been published by Indian scientist in the field of Astronomy & Astrophysics during 1988-2017 which was further retrieved and analyzed separately for different blocks of 10 years as well as for 30 years consolidated too. The core journal of the field was identified. The Bradford law of …


Question 1: Clock Variation; Question 2: Recycling Coffee Pods, Larry Weinstein Dec 2018

Question 1: Clock Variation; Question 2: Recycling Coffee Pods, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

The article presents questions and answers regarding the impact of gravity on pendulum clocks and the recycling of coffee pods.


Exploring The Neural Mechanisms Of Physics Learning, Jessica E. Bartley Nov 2018

Exploring The Neural Mechanisms Of Physics Learning, Jessica E. Bartley

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a series of neuroimaging investigations and achievements that strive to deepen and broaden our understanding of human problem solving and physics learning. Neuroscience conceives of dynamic relationships between behavior, experience, and brain structure and function, but how neural changes enable human learning across classroom instruction remains an open question. At the same time, physics is a challenging area of study in which introductory students regularly struggle to achieve success across university instruction. Research and initiatives in neuroeducation promise a new understanding into the interactions between biology and education, including the neural mechanisms of learning and development. These …


Solutions For Fermi Questions, November 2018: Question 1: Kale; Question 2: Hurricane Angular Momentum, Larry Weinstein Nov 2018

Solutions For Fermi Questions, November 2018: Question 1: Kale; Question 2: Hurricane Angular Momentum, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

The article presents questions and answers related to physics estimations including the amount of kale needed to provide the right amount of calories in a year, and the angular momentum of Hurricane Florence.


Question 1: Kale; Question 2: Hurricane Angular Momentum, Larry Weinstein Nov 2018

Question 1: Kale; Question 2: Hurricane Angular Momentum, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

A quiz concerning the amount of kale needed to provide calories for a person in a year and the angular momentum of Hurricane Florence when it made landfall.