On the Lorentzian route to Relativity

American Journal of Educational Research, 2014

In this paper a pedagogical, but rigorous introduction to the key concepts of relativity is presented. Starting by the notions of space and time, of fundamental importance for the evolution for the global knowledge of children already in the primary school, we arrive to indications about the teaching of relativity in high school and university. Interesting considerations related to fascinating topics, like the evolution of the concept of space-time and the unusual amazing peculiarities emerging by the extensions of relativity, will be done.

clab.edc.uoc.gr

The wide availability of information has led to the fact that students are well aware of the difficulties of existing physical theories. In this article we analyze some logical paradoxes of the special relativity theory (SRT), concerning the time dilation and length contraction. The Lorentz transformations and the relativistic law for velocity addition are considered in detail. The notion of relativity and the transverse Doppler effect are discussed. The whole complex of numerous paradoxes in the special theory of relativity worries us by further complications.

Physics Curriculum Design, Development …, 2008

The introduction of modern physics topics in secondary schools is one of the highest challenges in physics education. In this regard, a specific exercise has been carried out in the context of a dedicated Summer School involving both teachers with a Master in Education and secondary school students previously acquainted with these teachers. In the case of enlightening and overcoming conceptual and learning problems-with a deep insight to concepts and terms in contrast with common sense and everyday experience-a dedicated analysis of two different curricular proposals is outlined, showing possible weaknesses and strengths in both teaching frameworks and approaches.

Scientia in educatione, 2017

In the present Case Study we explore the comprehension levels of relativity theory in prospective science teachers who take the introduction to physics lesson at the Faculty of Education. Special Theory of Relativity multimedia animation was used to illustrate basic relativistic consequences. The effect of it for learning was researched. In the research, a case study was used. Research data were obtained by interviews and using open-ended questions prepared by the researcher.

Science & Education, 2010

This paper discusses some topics that stem from recent contributions made by the History, the Philosophy, and the Didactics of Science. We consider these topics relevant to the introduction of the Special Relativity Theory (SRT) in high school within a contextualized approach. We offer an outline of a teaching-learning sequence dealing with the SRT within this frame of reference. Such a sequence was tried out on a group of high school students in Argentina. The results obtained seem to indicate that the proposal has been effective as regards the motivational aspects and the understanding students gained of some of its concepts.

1 What changes Newtonian Mechanics into the Special Theory of Relativity?

Canadian Journal of Physics, 2004

A century after its formulation by Einstein, it is time to incorporate special relativity early in the physics curriculum. The approach advocated here employs a simple algebraic extension of vector formalism that generates Minkowski spacetime, displays covariant symmetries, and enables calculations of boosts and spatial rotations without matrices or tensors. The approach is part of a comprehensive geometric algebra with applications in many areas of physics, but only an intuitive subset is needed at the introductory level. The approach and some of its extensions are given here and illustrated with insights into the geometry of spacetime. PACS Nos.: 03.30.+p, 01.40.Gm, 03.50.De, 02.10.Hh