Galilei and the birth of the scientific method. Equilibrium and motion of bodies (kinematics, statics, dynamics); fluids; optics and thermology; astronomy. Reflections on disciplinary teaching, in particular through experiments and discoveries.
A physics textbook for the secondary school.
An astronomy textbook for the secondary school.
Learning Objectives
Acquisition of a basic scientific knowledge useful for teaching science in the nursery and primary school. Discussion on many aspects of the teaching of the discipline.
Prerequisites
Elementary geometry and algebra; linear equations; representation of points and straight lines on the Cartesian reference frame. Units of measure and equivalences.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures, demonstrations in the classroom manily by the teacher.
Further information
The workshop includes didactic planning activities, to be carried out in groups. For Erasmus students, it is replaced by a small additional didactic load.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam. As a first question, the candidate will be asked to solve an exercise, similar to those carried out during the lessons. Further questions on program topics will follow. The student's ability to critically reflect on the proposed problems will be evaluated, from the point of view of the nursery and primary school's teacher.
Course program
INTRODUCTION: Presentation of the course. Review of mathematics (equivalences, fractions, percentages, powers, directly or inversely proportional quantities, first degree equations, Cartesian frame of reference). The subject of physics. Galilei and the experimental scientific method.
EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS: Discussion on various aspects concerning science teaching. Design of disciplinary courses in the scientific field and verification tests, both for kindergarten and primary school.
MEASUREMENTS, ERRORS: International System of Units. Direct and indirect measurements. The density. Uncertainties and their propagation in indirect measurements. Significant figures.
MOTION: position, traveled distance and speed. Properties of the uniform straight motion. Graphical representation of motion: space-time and speed-time graphs. Acceleration. Properties of uniformly accelerated straight motion. Free-fall motion. Vector quantities. Vector operations. Motions in a plane. Uniform circular motion and centripetal acceleration. Effects produced by a force. The weight force. Constraints and friction forces. Equilibrium of objects supported or suspended. Moment of a force: the levers. Forces as causes of the motion. Newton's laws of motion. Difference between weight and mass. Motion of a thrown object. Exercises and applications. Work, power. Kinetic energy and its theorem. Gravitational potential energy, conservative and non-conservative forces. Principle of conservation of mechanical energy. Kepler's laws. Law of universal gravitation. Inertial mass and gravitational mass.
FLUIDS: Definition of pressure. Pressure in fluids (Pascal's law). Pressure in liquids due to weight force (Stevin's law). Applications: hydraulic press, communicating vessels. Atmospheric pressure. Measurement of atmospheric pressure (Torricelli's experiment). Floating bodies.
THERMAL PHYSICS: Heat and work: the fundamental equation of heat. Applications: determination of the time required to heat a known mass of water with an electric heater, equilibrium temperature reached after mixing two masses of water at different temperatures.
ASTRONOMY: Structure and characteristics of celestial bodies: stars and planets. The life of a star: birth and evolution. Characteristics of the Solar System. The Ptolemaic geocentric system and the Copernican heliocentric system. The dispute over the "system of the world" in Galileo. History of the telescope. The motions of the Earth: rotation and revolution. Latitude and longitude. The cycle of seasons on the Earth. Eratosthenes' measurement of the Earth's circumference. Foucault's pendulum. The measurement of time on the Earth: definition of "day" and "year". Time zones. Characteristics of the Moon: phases, eclipses.
Physics laboratory: the subject will be discussed with students.