New trends in physics teaching, v.4; The ... - unesdoc - Unesco

New Trends in Physics Teaching IV
(111) The effects of solar radiation on the Earth
Incoming and outgoing of energy at the Earth: incidence angle of sunlight, latitudeeffect
of balance of heat, absorption and radiation of heat by the atmosphere, temperature
change of the atmosphere, the ground, and water.
Lab. : measuring amount of solar radiation, absorption of heat by the atmosphere, etc.
The changes which occur on the surface of the earth: climate, circulation of the atmosphere,
water erosion, sedimentation, weathering of rocks.
Lab. : sedimentation, weathering of slaked lime.
Historical aspects of solar radiation: periodic changes in various phenomena on the
earth, glacial periods, fossil animals and plants.
Lab.: periodic change of sunspots, observing annual rings of trees.
The flow of matter and energy in ecosystems: solar radiation and behaviour of living
things, growth of living things, mutation, evolution, photosynthesis, photochemical
reaction, production and consumption of substances in an ecosystem.
Lab.: germination, photosynthesis, photochemical reactions, micro-organisms and
light, ultraviolet rays.
(IV) Solar radiation and human beings
(a)
Direct utilization and harmfulness of solar radiation: heat effect of solar radiation,
photochemical smog.
Lab. : greenhouse, solar water-heating, solar furnace.
(b) Indirect utilization of solar radiation: accumulation of solar energy, burning, fuels,
fossil fuel, carbon compounds, food, clothing, synthetic fibres.
Lab.: burning and dry distillation of wood, generating water and carbon dioxide by
burning, conditions of burning, measuring combustion heat, experimenting with
hydrocarbons.
(c)
Transformation and conservation of energy: various energy forms (heat, chemical,
electric, and mechanical) and their transformation, conservation of energy and the
first law of thermodynamics, energy degradation and the second law of thermodynamics.
Lab. : storing of solar energy, solar cells, generating electric currents by wind power.
(d) Various energy sources: tidal, terrestrial heat, nuclear power.
Development of teaching materials
On the basis of the content proposed, the following examples of teaching materials (including an
outline of teaching and learning process) were developed.
1. Observing Fraunhofer dark lines.
2. Inferring the movement of the Sun from shadow curves.
3. Measuring southing time and southing height of the Sun.
4. Measuring refractive index in order to investigate characteristics of substances.
5. Diffraction and interference of ripples and light.
6. Estimating the surface temperature of the Sun.
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