Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics

© 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd. The Einstein-First project approaches the teaching of Einsteinian physics through the use of physical models and analogies. This paper presents an approach to the teaching of quantum physics which begins by emphasising the particle-nature of light through the use of toy pr...

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Main Authors: Kaur, T., Blair, D., Moschilla, J., Zadnik, Marjan
Format: Journal Article
Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/58565
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author Kaur, T.
Blair, D.
Moschilla, J.
Zadnik, Marjan
author_facet Kaur, T.
Blair, D.
Moschilla, J.
Zadnik, Marjan
author_sort Kaur, T.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd. The Einstein-First project approaches the teaching of Einsteinian physics through the use of physical models and analogies. This paper presents an approach to the teaching of quantum physics which begins by emphasising the particle-nature of light through the use of toy projectiles to represent photons. This allows key concepts including the spacing between photons, and photon momentum to be introduced. This in-turn allows an intuitive understanding of the uncertainty principle. We present optical interference in the context of individual photons, using actual videos showing the development of images one at a time. This enables simple laser interference experiments to be interpreted through the statistical arrival of photons. The wave aspects of quantum phenomenon are interpreted in terms of the wavelike nature of the arrival probabilities.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T10:13:27Z
format Journal Article
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:13:27Z
publishDate 2017
publisher Institute of Physics Publishing
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-585652018-03-29T09:09:01Z Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics Kaur, T. Blair, D. Moschilla, J. Zadnik, Marjan © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd. The Einstein-First project approaches the teaching of Einsteinian physics through the use of physical models and analogies. This paper presents an approach to the teaching of quantum physics which begins by emphasising the particle-nature of light through the use of toy projectiles to represent photons. This allows key concepts including the spacing between photons, and photon momentum to be introduced. This in-turn allows an intuitive understanding of the uncertainty principle. We present optical interference in the context of individual photons, using actual videos showing the development of images one at a time. This enables simple laser interference experiments to be interpreted through the statistical arrival of photons. The wave aspects of quantum phenomenon are interpreted in terms of the wavelike nature of the arrival probabilities. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/58565 10.1088/1361-6552/aa83e1 Institute of Physics Publishing restricted
spellingShingle Kaur, T.
Blair, D.
Moschilla, J.
Zadnik, Marjan
Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title_full Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title_fullStr Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title_full_unstemmed Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title_short Teaching Einsteinian physics at schools: Part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
title_sort teaching einsteinian physics at schools: part 2, models and analogies for quantum physics
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/58565