Physics is the queenPhysics is the queen

Nadina Gheorghiu, Bryn Mawr CollegeNadina Gheorghiu, Bryn Mawr College

George Y. Panasyuk, University of PennsylvaniaGeorge Y. Panasyuk, University of Pennsylvania

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Marie Sklodovska Curie (1836-1934)

Nobel prize winner for physics (discovery of radioactivity, 1903)

Nobel prize winner for chemistry (discovery of Po and Ra, 1911)

AbstractAbstract

Amongst science disciplines, no doubt physics is the most challenging Amongst science disciplines, no doubt physics is the most challenging one. In the still widely spread traditional science curriculum, physics one. In the still widely spread traditional science curriculum, physics comes only at the end, moreover, as an elective course. How this science comes only at the end, moreover, as an elective course. How this science curriculum can affect our undergraduate students’ attitudes towards curriculum can affect our undergraduate students’ attitudes towards physics and its role in understanding the world around them? For physics and its role in understanding the world around them? For instance, courses that are more descriptive are known to enhance instance, courses that are more descriptive are known to enhance memorization. Students’ learning should be based on understanding and memorization. Students’ learning should be based on understanding and analytical skills, which are more enhanced by physics courses. Two analytical skills, which are more enhanced by physics courses. Two example problems are provided, in which the conceptual understanding example problems are provided, in which the conceptual understanding prevails the routine work. Our own high school education as well as our prevails the routine work. Our own high school education as well as our teaching experience in Romania, Russia, and in the United States teaching experience in Romania, Russia, and in the United States showed that learning physics first is more cognitive beneficial and that it showed that learning physics first is more cognitive beneficial and that it needs to be implemented in all the United States schools. needs to be implemented in all the United States schools.

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Why study physics first?Why study physics first?

PhysicsPhysics is crucial to understanding the world around us, is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It is the the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It is the most basic and fundamental science…most basic and fundamental science…

PhysicsPhysics is interesting, relevant, and it can prepare you is interesting, relevant, and it can prepare you for great jobs in a wide variety of places. Shouldn’t you for great jobs in a wide variety of places. Shouldn’t you take a physics course?”take a physics course?”

American Physical Society, American Physical Society, 20072007

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

“ “All the mathematical sciences All the mathematical sciences are founded on relations are founded on relations between physical laws and laws between physical laws and laws of numbers, so that the aim of of numbers, so that the aim of exact science is to reduce the exact science is to reduce the problems of nature to the problems of nature to the determination of quantities by determination of quantities by operations with numbers.”operations with numbers.”

James C. Maxwell physicist and mathematician (1831 – 1879)

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

When first studying physics?When first studying physics? Question: When did you first hear about Newton’s laws?Question: When did you first hear about Newton’s laws?

EU student: In the 6EU student: In the 6thth grade. grade.

US student: In the 12US student: In the 12thth grade. grade.

Learning and understanding: Improving Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in U.S. High Schools: Report of the Content Panel for Physics, Committee on Programsfor Advanced Study of Mathematics and Science in American High Schools, National Research Council (2002), http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10361.html

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Science makes the topScience makes the topPhysics 1Physics 1stst could make it could make it better!better!

National Assessment of Educational Progress,U.S. Department of Education, 2006

HS enrollment in the sciences, 1890 - 1982 (above)HS graduation science credits, 1982 - 2000 (below)

K. Sheppard and D.M. Robbins, J. Chem. Ed. 82, 561 (2005)

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

All right, there are several solutions…All right, there are several solutions…Which do you think is the best one?Which do you think is the best one?

Teach physics first, starting in the 9Teach physics first, starting in the 9thth grade. grade. Marjorie G. Bardeen and Leon M. Lederman, Marjorie G. Bardeen and Leon M. Lederman, Science Science 281281, 178 (1998), 178 (1998) Why not starting physics in the 5Why not starting physics in the 5thth grade? grade?

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Curriculum & TextbooksCurriculum & Textbooks

““Less is more” for an effective instruction!Less is more” for an effective instruction!

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Is there a recipe for this problem?Is there a recipe for this problem?

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Understanding vs. MemorizationUnderstanding vs. Memorization

Learning vs. Grade RaceLearning vs. Grade Race

The Goal:The Goal:Learning & UnderstandingLearning & Understanding

Jerry Gollub and Robin Spital, Physics Today p. 48, May 2002

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Example 1: A 2D motion problemExample 1: A 2D motion problem

2

2v

?v

1v

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

SolutionSolution to the 2D motion problem to the 2D motion problem

αcosv2vvvv 2122

21

Done!!

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

True solutionTrue solution to the 2D motion problem to the 2D motion problem

cosαv2vvvsinαv

vv

)-vcos(v

vcosv

2122

21

2

1

2

1

cosαv2vvvv 2122

21 Wrong!

Correct solution v

1v2v

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Example 2: Example 2: A geometrical optics problem A geometrical optics problem

Why a person who is using otherwise not Why a person who is using otherwise not

so strong glasses can read without glasses so strong glasses can read without glasses

at bright day light?at bright day light?

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Solution to Solution to the geometrical optics problem the geometrical optics problem

pupil retina

image

point object

Concepts at work

The eye as a camera having a variable pinhole Ray tracing and image formation through a lens

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Physics first!Physics first!

Our acknowledgements to Bryn Mawr College

N. Gheorghiu & G.Y. Panasyuk 8/1/07 AAPT 2007 Summer Meeting, Greensboro NC

Reference for the two problems:

“Problems in Physics”, Quant (Russian journal for high school students), edited by academicians I. K. Kikoin and A. N. Kolmogorov