Physics Education
Section 7 of Einstein's 1905 electrodynamics paper gives frequency-shift and aberration formulae that together describe an elongated ellipsoidal wavefront. A Lorentz contraction of this ellipsoid solves most (but not all) of the associated…
In this article we give an introduction to the Fock quantization of the Maxwell field. At the classical level, we treat the theory in both the covariant and canonical phase space formalisms. The approach is general since we consider…
If potential energy is the timelike component of a four-vector, then there must be a corresponding spacelike part which would logically be called the potential momentum. The potential four-momentum consisting of the potential momentum and…
It is argued that the three families of quarks and leptons are the building blocks of all matter and all forces (leaving out gravity) among them are mediated by photons ($\gamma$), the weak bosons ($W^\pm$ and $Z$) and the gluons.
Care making only clock-specific assertions about elapsed-time, and other ``space-time smart'' strategies from the perspective of a selected inertial map-frame, open doors to an understanding of anyspeed motion via application of the metric…
The online tutoring system CAPA was implemented at Afeka College in the academic year 2000-2001 in calculus based physics courses. It was used also in the academic year 2001-2002 and was very successful in improving understanding and…
We discuss an inquiry-based curriculum that has been developed specifically for the introductory algebra-based physics course, taking into account the needs, backgrounds, learning styles and career goals of the students in that class. The…
Peer Instruction (PI) is a student-centered instructional approach developed at Harvard by Eric Mazur (1997). The method has been welcomed by the science community and adopted by a large number of colleges and universities, due among other…
Traditional problem-based exams are not efficient instruments for assessing the "structure" of physics students' conceptual knowledge or for providing diagnostically detailed feedback to students and teachers. We present the Free Term Entry…
We present the development of a LabVIEW multimedia module for introductory Quantum Physics courses and our experience in the use of this application as an educational tool in learning methodologies. The program solves the Time Dependent…
Project-based assessment, in the form of take-home exams, was trialed in an honours/masters level electromagnetic theory course. This assessment formed an integral part of the learning experience of the students, and students felt that this…
The development of Information and Communication Technologies suggests some spectacular changes in the methods used for teaching scientific subjects. Nowadays, the development of software and hardware makes it possible to simulate processes…
In this paper we investigate the extent to which students' problem-solving behaviors change as a result of working on multi-faceted, context-rich problems. During the semester, groups of two to three students work on several problems that…
Electricity in the atmosphere provides an ideal topic for educational outreach in environmental science. To support this objective, a simple instrument to measure real atmospheric electrical parameters has been developed and its performance…
The oscillation periods bounded by a simple pendulum and an oscillating rigid rod are illustrated using a multiple pendulum. Oscillation periods between these two limits are obtained. A theoretical approach using the Lagrangian formalism…
Challenging problems of modern engineering education and a role of information technology are reviewed. An importance of simulation of real world physical problems in both graduate and lifelong/corporate education is discussed. It is…
In principle, the twin paradox offers the possibility to go on a trip to the center of our galaxy or even to the end of our universe within life time. In order to be a most comfortable journey the voyaging twin accelerates with Earth's…
In high school physics and physics at university level anti-commutative and non-commutative quantities play an outstanding role at the theoretical description of physical relations. But while using commutative quantities, the basic formal…
Stewart has presented a position-space derivation of the identity for the volume integral of a product of two vector fields noted by Gubarev, Stodolsky, and Zakharov, and applied the results to classical electromagnetic theory. I present a…
I have the rare experience of being on both sides of the mentor--undergraduate student relationship in the same program (Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, or SURF, program). In this essay, I will discuss how this…