arXiv subjects

Daniel Baccino

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Baccino.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Differences in the attitudes and beliefs about science of students in the physics-mathematics and life sciences areas and their impact on teaching

For this study, we compared the attitudes and beliefs about science of physical science (physics and mathematics) and life science (biochemistry and biology) students at the beginning of their university degrees using the CLASS (Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey) tool. It is worth noting that both groups of students received similar physics courses during their high-school education. Through a detailed analysis of the different categories of the test, we examined the differences in performance in each of the areas that make up the questionnaire. Among other aspects, we found that a considerable percentage of life science students (higher than that of physical science students) adopted a novice type of behavior in problem solving. Finally, we discussed the possible causes of the differences found and their implications for teaching.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2021

What are the attitudes and beliefs about Science of the Physics teachers and future Physics teachers in Uruguay?

We investigated the epistemological conceptions of the uruguayan Physics teachers and future Physics teachers through the application of the CLASS test (Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey), one of the most accepted instruments in the research community in Physics education. The results obtained allow us to compare the attitudes and beliefs about science of both groups and quantitatively evaluate the agreement or not with the conceptions of experts in the field. First, we present a general screenshot of the responses and then we identify categories in which there are significant similarities or differences between the two groups studied and in turn with the reference of the experts. The categories that show significant positive or negative variations between the opinions of future teachers and teachers indicate the areas where training is favorable or unfavorable. On the other hand, the areas where the differences with the opinions of the experts are globally notorious suggest that they should be strengthened. To get a more global perspective, we also compare our results with those published in the literature. Finally, we raise several questions that we think may favor further inquiries.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2020

Inconsistencies and errors in traditional approaches to energy in our introductory courses

We present a critical analysis of the classical approaches to energy subjects, based on the work-energy theorem and the conservation of mechanical energy proposed in the courses of the first years of tertiary education. We show how these approaches present a series of inconsistencies and errors that are a source of conceptual difficulties among students. We then analyze a modern treatment of mechanical courses based on the results of research in physics education over the last 40 years. We place special emphasis on the principle of conservation of energy as one of the fundamental principles of nature, prioritizing the concepts of system, surrounding, and energy transfer and transformation.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2020

Normal coordinates in a system of coupled oscillators and influence of the masses of the springs

Experimental analysis of the motion in a system of two coupled oscillators with arbitrary initial conditions was performed and the normal coordinates were obtained directly. The system consisted of two gliders moving on an air track, joined together by a spring and joined by two other springs to the fixed ends. From the positions of the center of mass and the relative distance, acquired by analysis of the digital video of the experiment, normal coordinates were obtained, and by a non linear fit the normal frequencies were also obtained. It is shown that although the masses of the springs are relatively small compared to that of the gliders, it is necessary to take them into consideration to improve the agreement with the experimental results. This experimental-theoretical proposal is targeted to an undergraduate laboratory.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2019

An experiment to address conceptual difficulties in slipping and rolling problems

A bicycle wheel that was initially spinning freely was placed in contact with a rough surface and a digital film was made of its motion. Using Tracker software for video analysis, we obtained the velocity vectors for several points on the wheel, in the frame of reference of the laboratory as well as in a relative frame of reference having as its origin the wheel`s center of mass. The velocity of the wheel`s point of contact with the floor was also determined obtaining then a complete picture of the kinematic state of the wheel in both frames of reference. An empirical approach of this sort to problems in mechanics can contribute to overcoming the considerable difficulties they entail.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2019

Video-based analysis of the transition from slipping to rolling

The problem of a disc or cylinder initially rolling with slipping on a surface and subsequently transitioning to rolling without slipping is often cited in textbooks. The following experiment serves to clearly demonstrate the transition from rolling with slipping to rolling without slipping. In the experiment, a rotating bicycle wheel was placed in contact with a horizontal surface and the wheel in motion was tracked using Tracker video analysis software [8]. The software created linear velocity plots for the centre of mass and a point on the circumference as well as a plot of the angular velocity of the rotating wheel. The time evolution plots created by Tracker clearly illustrate the transition between the two types of motion.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2019

Going back to the roots: how to create stroboscopic photos from digital videos

We show here how to create from digital films using the well-known software Tracker stroboscopic photos in order to analyze different types of movements. The advantage of this procedure is that it is possible to analyze the printed photo or on a computer screen in an intuitive way for the students. After presenting a historical perspective of the use of stroboscopic photos in secondary education we discuss several examples: the movement of a remote control car, an elastic planar collision, the movement of a projectile and also an experiment in electromagnetism, more specifically, the discharge of a capacitor measured using an analog multimeter.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2019

A dynamical model of remote-control model cars

Simple experiments for which differential equations cannot be solved analytically can be addressed using an effective model that satisfactorily reproduces the experimental data. In this work, the one-dimensional kinematics of a remote-control model (toy) car was studied experimentally and its dynamical equation modelled. In the experiment, maximum power was applied to the car, initially at rest, until it reached its terminal velocity. Digital video recording was used to obtain the relevant kinematic variables that enabled to plot trajectories in the phase space. A dynamical equation of motion was proposed in which the overall frictional force was modelled as an effective force proportional to the velocity raised to the power of a real number. Since such an equation could not be solved analytically, a dynamical model was developed and the system parameters were calculated by non-linear fitting. Finally, the resulting values were substituted in the motion equation and the numerical results thus obtained were compared with the experimental data, corroborating the accuracy of the model.

physics.ed-ph↗