Physical Science

Most general chemistry courses and textbooks emphasize experimental details and lack a history and philosophy of science perspective. The objective of this study is to facilitate freshman general chemistry students' understanding of atomic structure based on the work of Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr. It is hypothesized that classroom discussions based on arguments/counterarguments of the heuristic principles, on which these scientists based their atomic models, can facilitate students' conceptual understanding. This study is based on 160 freshman students enrolled in six sections of General Chemistry I (three sections formed part of the experimental group). All three models (Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr) were presented to the experimental and control group students in the traditional manner, as found in most textbooks. After this, the three sections of the experimental group participated in the discussion of six items with alternative responses. Students were first asked to select a response and then participate in classroom discussions leading to arguments in favor or against the selected response and finally select a new response. Three weeks after having discussed the six items, both the experimental and control groups presented a monthly exam (based on the three models) and after another 3 weeks a semester exam. Results obtained show that given the opportunity to argue and discuss, students' understanding can go beyond the simple regurgitation of experimental details. Performance of the experimental group showed contradictions, resistances, and progressive conceptual change with considerable and consistent improvement in the last item. It is concluded that if we want our students to understand scientific progress and practice, then it is important that we include the experimental details not as a rhetoric of conclusions (Schwab, 1962, The teaching of science as enquiry, Cambridge, MA, Harward University Press; Schwab, 1974, Conflicting conceptions of curriculum, Berkeley, CA, McCutchan) but as heuristic principles (Lakatos, 1970, Criticism and the growth of knowledge, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, pp. 91-195), which were based on arguments, controversies, and interpretations of the scientists.

It is possible to describe a universal scalar field of time but not a universal coordinate of time and to attribute its non geodesic alignment to the electromagnetic phenomena. A very surprising outcome is that not only mass generates gravity but also electric charge.

See copyrights at the original version in IOPScience: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/845/1/012019
This upload in academia.edu totally rewrites the original paper and reaches mass ratios, Muon/Elecron, W/Z, W/Tau, Tau/Muon, exact Fine Structure constant, Mass hierarchy, mass ratio Pole Bottom Energy / Muon energy.

The predictive calculations of vacancy formation energies in metals: Cu, Ag, Ni, Pt, Au, Pd, Ir and Rh are presented. The energy is given as a function of electron density. Density functional theory underestimates the vacancy formation energy when structural relaxation is included. The unrelaxed mono-vacancy formation, unrelaxed di-vacancy formation, unrelaxed di-vacancy binding and low index surface energies of the fcc transition metals Cu, Ag, Ni, Pt, Au, Pd, Ir and Rh has been calculated using embedded atom method. The values for the vacancy formation energies agree with the experimental value. We also calculate the elastic constants of the metals and the heat of solution for the binary alloys of the selected metals. The average surface energies calculated by including the crystal angle between planes (hkl) and (111) correspond to the experiment for Cu, Ag, Ni, Pt and Pd. The calculated mono-vacancy formation energies are in reasonable agreement with available experimental values...

We focused in this article on two essential points: infrastructure dedicated to experimental activities in physics education in Moroccan colleges and experimental practice of teachers and the opinion of students on these activities. The results showed that school laboratories do not facilitate the learning and development of knowledge and know-how of the learners. The experiences of the course, according to teachers and students, are made as of experiences integrated into the course (performed by the teacher himself), the teachers refer to the lack of material, dangerous nature of certain experiences, inadequate premises suitable for practical work, poor management of laboratories that influence the rate of planned experiments and the experimental practices of teachers. The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) would be a good way to supplement the experiences and not replace them. Teachers argue that the constraints and difficulties related to the integration of ICT are mainly due to an infrastructure deficit and support (training). Résumé Nous avons penché dans cet article sur deux points essentiels: les infrastructures réservés aux activités expérimentales dans l'enseignement des sciences physiques dans les collèges marocains et les pratiques expérimentales des enseignants ainsi que l'avis des élèves sur ces activités. Les résultats ont montré que les laboratoires scolaires, dans les conditions actuelles, ne facilitent pas l'apprentissage et le développement des savoirs et des savoirs faire des apprenants. La plupart des expériences réalisées, que ce

In this research, a control system in the form of a syringe pump has been developed to control the volume and flow rate of a liquid or a solution. The syringe pump is fabricated by controlling the speed and pulse width modulation (PWM) of stepper motors based on the Arduino Uno microcontroller board. The tools used are a stepper motor as a syringe driver, the Arduino Uno as a controller, a four-digit seven-segment display and a keypad matrix as an input interface. The syringe pump works by pushing the injection pump whose speed has been adjusted to the flow rate. The speed of the flow rate and volume are obtained by setting the delay time of the stepper motor using PWM pins from the Arduino Uno. The syringe pump is observed to work in the flow rate range of 0.10–12.00 ml h–1. The system can be applied to medical settings as the control of volume and flow rate of drug fluids as well as with nanofibres using electrospinning technique.

The development and validation of an instrument for establishing the perceived INSET needs of teachers of Mathematics, Physical Science, and Biology in Limpopo province, South Africa, and their pertinent demographic details are described. The instrument was modified from the Science Teacher Inventory of Needs (STIN-3) developed by previous workers. STIN-3 was adapted for use in the educational context of Limpopo province in collaboration with important stakeholders in Mathematics, Physical Science, and Biology education at the provincial and national level. The stakeholders commented on the appropriateness or otherwise of items, suggested additional items, and assessed the clarity of items and instructions for completing the questionnaire. An English Second Language expert inspected the instrument to make its language demands appropriate for the target audience. The resulting Science Teacher Inventory of Needs for Limpopo Province (STIN-LP) was pilot-tested on 132 teachers in the su...

Science education plays a significant role in the country's economic development. It brings technological advancement, promotes national wealth, and improves health and industry. In this context, the qualitative study explored the participants' experiences regarding their choice in specializing science. Narrative inquiry from four purposively selected and interviewed graduating students of secondary education in Teacher Education Institutions in Northern Negros Philippines determined and described that personal interest, nature of science, family influence and teacher's impact drives their interest to specialize science. Data analysis involved a simplified version of Groenewald's coding and categorizing of the participants' responses (Cebuano) which then transcribed and translated to the English language. The emerging themes are essential in students' choice in science. Thus, academic institutions may revisit and review its science curriculum, provide state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, strengthen teacher's mastery and competence through professional advancement, and involve parents in school's career campaign to attract students' to pursue science education.

Die „Ergänzenden Bemerkungen zum DPG-Gutachten über den Karlsruher Physikkurs“ zeigen exemplarisch, was im Fach Physik alles schief läuft. Die Experten und selbsternannten Gutachter der DPG sind nicht in der Lage, eine vollständige Impulsbilanz hinzuschreiben, weil sie den Unterschied zwischen Oberflächen- und Volumenkraft nicht kennen. Sie haben nicht begriffen, dass im zweiten Newtonschen Axiom von der resultierenden Kraft die Rede ist und dass sich das dritte Axiom mit den Einzelkräften, den Wechselwirkungen zwischen je zwei Körpern, beschäftigt. Folgerichtig verwechseln sie das Gleichgewicht eines Körpers mit der Wechselwirkung zwischen zwei Körpern und stellen deshalb die unsinnige Forderung auf, dass zur Berechnung der Impulsstromstärke immer über die ganze Oberfläche integriert werden müsse.

With a renewed interest to search for hydrocarbons in the hinter land of Nigeria’s inland basin climaxed after the discovery of a rewarding oil prospects around the Kolmani river II as recently announced by the National Oil Company, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This research was based on analyzing the high-resolution aeromagnetic data over the study area using the Oasis Montaj TM software, in order to get the total magnetic intensity map as well as the residual map, band pass filter map was used to generate magnetic aureoles. GM-SYS module of the Oasis montaj was used for the modeling exercise, the models reveal the horst and graben architecture of the basement with the grabens serving as depocentres, hydrocarbon potentials of the area were highlighted using magnetic aureoles mapping.

The study reported in this paper is a survey (n=236) that examines how upper secondary students (18-19 years old) in Norway come to terms with the wave-particle duality as presented as part of a short introduction to quantum physics. The main conclusion is that this concept is poorly understood. Some students demonstrate clear and explicitly formulated misconceptions rooted in a classical physics world-view. Scholars in physics have stated that the concept of duality is unnecessary, but still included in school and university physics. It is argued that school physics should give a more explicit focus to the challenge that quantum physics presents to the classical worldview, thus introducing the importance of an affective dimension in the learning and teaching of quantum physics. This study replicates evidence from other studies that wave-particle duality does not introduce such a challenge.

Science Education plays a significant role in the country’s economic development. It brings technological advancement, promotes national wealth, and improves health and industry. In this context, the qualitative study explored the participants’ experiences regarding their choice in specializing Science. Narrative inquiry from four purposively selected and interviewed graduating students of Secondary Education in Teacher Education Institutions in Northern Negros Philippines determined and described that Personal Interest, Nature of Science, Family Influence and Teacher’s Impact drives their interest to specialize Science. Data analysis involved a simplified version of Groenewald’s coding and categorizing the participants’ responses (Cebuano) which then transcribed and translated to the English language. The emerging themes are essential in students’ choice in Science. Thus, academic institutions may revisit and review its science curriculum, provide state-of-the-art laboratory facili...

This article reports the effects of natural plant proteins on the morphology of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) prepared via a precipitation method. Green synthesised ZnONPs have a wide range of uses such as biomedical applications, water purification, optical devices and gas sensors. The non-toxic and economical technique described in this article is favourable for large-scale production too. ZnONPs were produced from a zinc acetate precursor with dye extract of Ixora Coccinea (IC) leaves as a capping agent. The as-prepared ZnONPs were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The XRD analysis showed an average crystallite size of 23 nm. The SEM analysis revealed a reduction in aggregation of ZnO crystallites due to addition of dye extracts of IC. EDX and UV-vis results confirmed the formation of pure ZnONPs. Finally, the gas sensing properties ...

We calculated the structural, electronic, mechanical and thermal properties of Fe3Al semiconducting using Quantum ESPRESSO, an open source first principles code based on density-functional theory, plane waves, and pseudopotentials. Structural parameter results (equilibrium lattice parameters, bulk modulus and its derivative pressure) have been reported. The underestimated band gap is obtained along with higher state density and energy bands around the fermi level. Mechanical properties of the rock-salt structure of Fe3Al, such as, shear modulus (G), Young’s modulus (E), and Poisson’s ratio () were investigated. The thermodynamic parameters are also present. The results are in good agreement with the available experimental and other theoretical results.

Abstract
The research focuses on comparing the amount of volts produced by the magnetic pendulum with different weight of magnetic wires. Three set-ups were created where each set-up 1 had 25grams of magnetic wire, set-up 2 had 50grams of magnetic wire and set-up 3 with 75 grams of magnetic wire. The set-ups were then connected to a multimeter to test if it can produce amount of electricity measured by volts.
Results show that the set-up with 75 grams of magnetic wire had highest volts produced by minute. ANOVA 1 was used to compare the 3 set-ups. According to the computation, set-up with 75grams of magnetic wire showed no significant difference on 0.05 level of significance with other two set-ups.
Results show that the f-ratio, -.30, is lower than the critical value, 5.14. If the f-ratio is lower than the critical value, then the Ho is accepted.
It is recommended to the future researchers to learn how to store electricity to properly measure the total amount of electricity produced without depending on the average electricity produced.

Aim of this work is to calibrate the high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy source 60Co. The radioactive source calibration is a very important part of the quality assurance program for dosimetry of brachytherapy source. The goal of this project is the calibration of HDR Brachytherapy source in radiation therapy is the measurement of the air kerma rate which required actual dose to deliver. The source calibration is an essential part of the quality assurance program for dosimetry of brachytherapy source. This research will help the patient who is involving brachytherapy treatment. HDR brachytherapy source 60Co is inserted directly or in close to the tumor. Most commonly using method for calibration of HDR brachytherapy source 60CO is well type ionization chamber. Calibration of the radioactive source 60Co brachytherapy source is very important for the treatment of cancer patient. We have got the variation between RAKR from TPS and measured Air Kerma Rate of 60Co brachytherapy source are...

An accurate estimate of the state of charge, which describes the remaining percentage of a battery’s capacity, has been an important and ever existing problem since the invention of the electrochemical cell. State of charge estimation is one of the important function of a battery management system which ensures the safe, efficient and reliable operation of a battery. In this paper, the coulomb counting method is implemented for the estimation of the state of charge of lithium-ion battery. The hardware comprises an Arduino based platform for control and data processing, and a 16-bit analog to digital converter for current and voltage measurement. The embedded algorithm initializes with a self-calibration phase, during which the battery capacity, coulombic efficiency and initial state of charge are evaluated. The initial state of charge is determined at the fully charged state (100% state of charge) or the fully discharged state (0% state of charge). The cumulative error of this metho...

The foregoing study was an attempt to examine university students’ understanding on selected astronomy concepts. Its general aim was to establish the status of astronomy education specifically along the scientific literacy of students. Among
the concepts examined included students’ reasoning on the occurrence of day and night, seasons, eclipses and tides. Moreover, it established their ideas on moon’s source of light, sun’s source of energy, black hole, colors and temperature,
the concept of light year and the planets of the solar system and its sequence. The responses of fifty 3rd year Bachelor of Elementary Education students in a researcher-compiled conceptual evaluation were done using the simple Collaizi
method. Results showed that university students possess variety of alternative conceptions along the above-mentioned phenomena and concepts. They hardly explain the occurrence of several natural phenomena and events even if they
experience it every day and even after undergoing formal instruction in elementary science, integrated science and physical science. As a whole, this study evidently showed that despite the antiquity of astronomy as among the field in science, still there exist a big gap in terms of understanding its various concepts.