Physics Education
Throughout all years of study, students of physics are confronted with the question 'what exactly is light?' - a question that is impossible to answer correctly and, therefore, continuously discussed within the framework of models. Numerous…
A procedure to teach Electrodynamics independently of unit systems is presented and compared with some of those given in physics literature.
This is a report on a qualitative study of students' learning where a physics computer simulation session is used to supplement lectures on the topic. Drawing on phenomenography as the analytical framework, the students' learning-focuses…
With an investigation into how students in a physics Master of science program make sense of their whole first year study experience in one of the years following a programme reform, we try to offer insights and advice to consider when…
The general equations of motion for ocean dynamics are presented and the waves supported by the (inviscid, unforced) linearized system with respect to a state of rest are derived. The linearized dynamics sustains one zero frequency mode…
Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and Chaos theory are three of the most significant scientific advances of the 20th Century - each fundamentally changing our understanding of the physical universe. The authors ask why the UK National…
Small perturbations of ideal turbulence obey the Schrodinger equation. Microscopically, the perturbation of turbulence corresponds to formation of small amplitude helices on straight vortex filaments. A helix behaves in the vorticity field…
In a lesson on holography a tension is to be found between the ray model, the wave model, the phasor model and the particle model. Lessons depend on the previous experiences of the students, the intentions of the teacher as well as on other…
This book is a manual for the course of electrodynamics and theory of relativity. It is recommended primarily for students of mathematical departments. This defines its style: I use elements of vectorial and tensorial analysis, differential…
Holography as a subject is neglected largely in current physics lessons and in school books. Even though this topic might be complex, it is applicable and viable in the world that we live in. Holography lends itself to further develop…
Physics and mathematics are difficult enough without the aditional burden of bad habits. In this article, we examine some helpful habits that tend to be underemphasized by many physics teachers (mainly because they seem so obvious!).
The interaction energy of a given distribution of electric charges and currents with an electromagnetic external field is expressed by the Cartesian components of the multipole tensors of this distribution. Special attention is paid to the…
A new simply constructed, easy-to-make demonstration of Hero's fountain is presented. The apparatus doesn't have a vessel above a fountain nozzle or a pump and can be considered as one of the best demonstration of Pascal and Bernoulli's…
We present an application of the basic mathematical concept of complex functions as topological solitons, a most interesting area of research in physics. Such application of complex theory is virtually unknown outside the community of…
As an expansion of complex numbers, the quaternions show close relations to numerous physically fundamental concepts. In spite of that, the didactic potential provided by quaternion interrelationships in formulating physical laws are hardly…
In recent years molecular elasticity has emerged as an active area of research: there are experiments that probe mechanical properties of single biomolecules such as DNA and Actin, with a view to understanding the role of elasticity of…
This is a short note to announce the availability of some movies that may be useful in classroom discussions on the photographic appearance of objects moving at relativistic speeds. The images are based on special relativity with no account…
After a systematic introduction of some formulae for the energy radiated by localized electric charges and currents, one considers the multipole radiation and the reduction of the multipole tensors to the symmetric traceless ones.
We present a pedagogical approach to the Lorentz group. We start by introducing a compact notation to express the elements of the fundamental representation of the rotations group.Lorentz coordinate transformations are derived in a novel…
The rotation vibration spectra of small molecules can be described mathematically completely. Unfortunately, no vivid interpretation of the observed transitions exists. A qualitative interpretation attempt is undertaken for symmetric top…