Abstract
Physical optics and in particular optical diffraction are privileged contexts to bridge from classical physics to the new way of interpret phenomena given by modern physics. The Physics Education Research Unit of the University of Udine developed an educational proposal on optical diffraction as “pillow” for quantum mechanics, as part of a more extensive project on didactic of modern Physics in High school framed in the Model of Educational Reconstruction. The approach to diffraction starts from the exploration of the phenomenology, is based on the use of on-line sensor to perform measurement and then analysis of the light intensity distribution and finally a modeling activity to pass from the phenomenological plane to the interpretation. The model to be implemented can open different theoretical frame: a wave nature of light; light as electromagnetic perturbation; a quantum photon vision of light. The lab activities concerning optical diffraction is here presented as experimental study of phenomena bridging different theories in physics and relative interpretations.. The students learning paths evidence which kind of reasoning were activated by the operative approach chosen.
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Michelini, M., Buongiorno, D., Stefanel, A. (2018). Educational Lab on Optical Diffraction to Bridge from Classical to Modern Physics. In: Sokołowska, D., Michelini, M. (eds) The Role of Laboratory Work in Improving Physics Teaching and Learning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96184-2_9
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