Spin(ing) into the classroom: Quantum spin activities for Year 6-10 physics
Abstract
Quantum science is in the news daily and engages student interest and curiosity. A fundamental quantum science concept that underpins medical imaging, quantum computing and many future technologies is quantum spin. Quantum spin can explain many physical phenomena that are in the lower secondary school curriculum, such as magnetism and light, making its inclusion a great motivator for students. Here we present an activity sequence for teaching quantum spin in the classroom using spinning tops and gyroscopes to highlight the common properties of classical angular momentum and quantum spin. These toys can provide an easily understood window to the quantum world for lower secondary school students. Students who have engaged in these activities reported enjoying the content and appreciating its relevance.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2405.05528,
title = {Spin(ing) into the classroom: Quantum spin activities for Year 6-10 physics},
author = {Kyla Adams and Anastasia Lonshakova and David Blair and David Treagust and Tejinder Kaur},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2405.05528},
year = {2024}
}
Comments
10 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Teaching Science