Physics Education
Common transparent polymer films such as cellophane and household tape are frequently used as examples of birefringent materials in textbooks and classroom demonstrations. Qualitatively, birefringence is often demonstrated by layering such…
We present a collection of biophysics examination problems that focus on electrodiffusion, the superposition principle, and currents in RC circuits, leading towards an understanding of the Hodgkin-Huxley model of action potentials. These…
We present a simple setup for the measurement of the magnetic moment of cosmic muons convenient for a student laboratory experiment. A significant simplification is made in the detector system compared to previous experiments of this kind,…
In this article, we provide an extensive overview of a wide range of quantum games and interactive tools that have been employed by the community in recent years. The paper presents selected tools, as described by their developers. The list…
To establish a closer contact between school and experimental sciences, Sapienza Universit\`a di Roma and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) launched the Lab2Go project. Lab2Go has the goal of spreading laboratory practice…
The rapidly growing quantum information science and engineering (QISE) industry will require both quantum-aware and quantum-proficient engineers at the bachelor's level. We provide a roadmap for building a quantum engineering education…
Physics increasingly uses Bayesian techniques for systematic data analysis and model-to-data comparison. This paper describes how these methods can be implemented to answer questions of relevance to teaching laboratories. It demonstrates…
The growing role of data science (DS) and machine learning (ML) in high-energy physics (HEP) is well established and pertinent given the complex detectors, large data, sets and sophisticated analyses at the heart of HEP research. Moreover,…
Early Career Researcher (ECR) development is a dynamic challenge that tensions the urge to perform ground-breaking research against an ultimate practical aspiration of establishing an acceptable level of job security. There is no typical…
In a previous study, students' self-expressed learning orientations towards an exercise centered on self-monitoring one's ability to solve a pre-lab physics problem were identified from a post-test feedback survey given to an introductory…
Physics education research on explanatory videos has experienced a boost in recent years. Due to the vast number of explanatory videos available online, e.g. on YouTube, finding videos of high explaining quality is a challenging task for…
We implemented a didactic experiment to study the angular correlation between the two gamma rays emitted in typical $^{60}$Co radioactive decays. We used two NaI(Tl) scintillators, already available in our laboratory, and a low-activity…
In the Summer of 2020, as COVID-19 limited in-person research opportunities and created additional barriers for many students, institutions either canceled or remotely hosted their Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs. The…
Project/problem-based learning, as an active methodology, improves significantly the learning process, making students take an active role in the construction of their own knowledge, and at the same time, develop soft and social skills that…
Difficulties presented by students on the concept of instantaneous velocity are well known. This is in part due to instantaneous speed being often defined in terms of the notion of mathematical limit, which may not be clear to many students…
In one of his books [$\textit{The Feynmann Lectures on Physics}$, vol. 2], Feynman presents a didactic approach to introduce basic ideas about tensors, using, as a first example, the dependence of the induced polarization of a crystal on…
The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV$^-$) center in diamond is a model quantum system for university teaching labs due to its room-temperature compatibility and cost-effective operation. Based on the low-cost experimental setup that…
In this paper, we use a straightforward numerical method to solve scattering models in one-dimensional lattices based on a tight-binding band structure. We do this by using the wave packet approach to scattering, which presents a more…
There is a growing recognition of the need to replace "cookbook"-style introductory labs with more-meaningful learning experiences. To identify the strengths and weaknesses of a mix of cookbook-style and inquiry-based labs, an introductory…
We redesigned an advanced physics laboratory course to include a project component. The intention was to address learning outcomes such as modeling, design of experiments, teamwork, and developing technical skills in using apparatus and…