Hands-on laboratory work is essential in first-year physics education, yet traditional setups can lack precision and adaptability. In this study, we present upgrades to key first-year experiments (air-track, the simple pendulum, and optics-based experiments), to enhance accuracy, interactivity, longevity and student engagement.
For the air-track and pendulum experiments, we developed a...
In this paper, I will present on the successful collaborations and initiatives in physics in Africa. There are available funding streams for Africa collaborations from South African NRF and MRC. The examples of bilateral funding between South Africa-Zambia, SA-Egypt, and SA-Algeria, to mention but a few, have continued for many years, benefiting many South African researchers. The...
Continuously improving students’ experience of the practical component in formal education is crucial to developing a strong understanding of theoretical concepts whilst staying relevant to technologies used in industry and post-graduate studies. Previous work, within the Nelson Mandela University Physics Department, has shown that innovative practicals can improve and add another dimension to...
Quantum computing, a field that started gaining increased traction around
2016, uses quantum mechanics principles from around 1900 to compute with
quantum phenomena rather than the random simulations of classical computers. This
interactive presentation introduces quantum computing to people without a
background in computing or quantum mechanics. It compares classical logic
gates and...
Quantum mechanics is an inherently challenging subject to learn and is sometimes counterintuitive. For example, concepts like entanglement, and the wave-particle duality theory oppose classical physics. However, conceptual parallels between quantum systems and classical systems can be exploited to bring intuition and advance the learning process. Classical light fields are one such states that...
The present time includes all tools that can assist the human race to make things faster reducing effective time. In the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) it is very important to find its applicability in the field of teaching particularly Physics. The present work aims at the discussion of all type of AI-based tools that can be useful for teachers and learners keeping in mind the the...
Epistemological beliefs individuals hold about the nature of knowledge and learning play a crucial role in understanding and engaging in the physical sciences. These beliefs influence how students, educators, and researchers perceive scientific concepts, theories, and methodologies. In the context of physical sciences, epistemological beliefs encompass views on the certainty and structure of...
Heat and temperature are fundamental concepts introduced in undergraduate physics thermodynamics with application in mechanics, energy, technology as well as in allied scientific disciplines such as materials science and chemistry. Towards promoting greater understanding of these concepts among students, it is important to identify student misconceptions. In this study, undergraduate physics...
Students’ success in physics is influenced not only by their content knowledge but also by their attitudes and approaches to problem solving. This study investigates the correlation between first-year mainstream physics students’ attitudes and approaches to problem solving and their academic achievement in the subject. A sample of 100 first-year students from the Department of Physics and...
Friendly learning environments have been studied to investigate their effectiveness as the basis of cognitive achievements in the understanding of basic Physics concepts. This is very important when it comes to this notorious subject in terms of difficulty. Students generally believe Physics is a difficult subject, where the challenge is particularly prominent in the first few years of their...
A final year undergraduate experiment has been designed and constructed with the aim of illustrating numerous aspects of low temperature measurements, with the objective of determining the electrical transport properties of materials. The experiment is designed to ensure that the students cannot treat the experimental apparatus as a data-producing “black box”, and the students are obliged to...
We view electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a specialized case that characterizes an electrochemical system by measuring its alternating current or potential signals. The measurements are normally used to identify the physical phenomena that control electrochemical reactions in the system and to determine the corresponding physical properties. It does provide an indirect means to measure...
Passing the matriculation examination with a bachelor's status is a prerequisite for admission to most university degree programmes in South Africa. However, many learners struggle to obtain enough Physical sciences and Mathematics scores to be admitted to a full degree program. Such learners are admitted to the extended curriculum program, which equips them with skills to improve their matric...
This study investigates the effect of material properties, specifically wood, plastic, and steel, on thermal conductivity through an inquiry-based approach. Thermal conductivity is a key factor influencing heat transfer in various applications, from construction to manufacturing. The research explores how the intrinsic properties of these materials, including density, structure, and...
Kahoot is a popular learning platform with a quiz-show format which is used for a quick review of student knowledge or to provide some variety in how material is presented. It is one of the most popular worldwide with over 70 million users per month. Many papers have been written on the effectiveness on using Kahoot in the classroom but few focused specifically on Physics. In addition most...
This paper presents an exploratory comparison of the Space Science and
Quantum Technology industries, focusing on their relevance to physics students in South Africa. Using publicly available data such as job listings, career portals, registered business records, industry reports, and economic data - the study offers a snapshot of the opportunities, visibility, and accessibility of these...
Physics is about making sense of the world around us. Try explaining phenomena. The way it proceeds is by modelling – Hastens describes this – two parts (theory and experiment). Modelling is about simplifying complexity – essentially by reducing to simpler forms. However, as mentioned by Einstein [?] - the description must be simple but not too simple. Therefore, modelling is to make sense of...
Challenges in the teaching and learning of physics existed as far as education existed worldwide. Lecturers and facilitators continually seek various approaches that could yield desirable results. However, the learning gains have mostly been disappointing, and physics is labelled as a difficult subject for the chosen few. That idea encouraged instructors to accept physics failure rates as...
Despite all the efforts made by Physics Education Researchers in terms of strategies to enhance students’ conceptual understanding of electric circuit phenomena, students still have conceptual difficulties related to solving problems related to electric circuits. The difficulty is worsened by the presence of misconceptions about electric circuit phenomena. In terms of constructivism, the...
Several formal initiatives, universities, and research institutions are working on quantum computing education in South Africa. This study explores the availability of quantum computing courses and educational resources for quantum computing students in South Africa, assessing their target levels, educational prerequisites, structure, and content.
The investigation identifies offerings from...
This study provides an introduction to the University of the Western Cape case study on curriculum renewal. It explores different conceptions of curriculum and curriculum renewal. It offers a critique of existing thinking about curriculum renewal as something that occurs within refined phases within the education system, where the thinking often sees curriculum renewal as occurring through...
In recent years, declining student success rates, particularly in first-year programs, have become a critical concern in higher education. This study examines throughput rates in first-year physics and chemistry courses over a five-year period, drawing on data from an extended curriculum program to identify and address key challenges. At the core of this study is the integration of Artificial...
Research on the efficiency of physics practicals in enhancing student grasp of physics ideas is rare. This study looks into how physics practicals affect students' knowledge of physics concepts at the University of Limpopo. Students who had attended a physics course with a laboratory component were polled using a questionnaire. The results of this study indicate that physics practicals improve...
Young’s double slit experiment is often referenced when studying the concept of interference of light. To see an interference pattern in the intensity distribution, the two interfering beams must be coherent, that is they must have the same polarization. Polarisation describes the time variation of the electric field in the plane orthogonal to the plane of propagation of the beam. Polarisation...
It is almost a common practice in institutions of higher learning that most experimental modules are well executed and understood by students if laboratory demonstrators are actively involved. This involvement is designed to assist students in understanding the practical aspects of their experiments before and during the laboratory session. This work reports on the vital and multifaceted role...
The integration of computer-based experiments (CBEs) in physics education has transformed traditional teaching methodologies by providing interactive, data-driven, and real-time analysis capabilities. This paper examines the role of CBEs in enhancing conceptual understanding, fostering inquiry-based learning, and improving student engagement. By utilizing digital simulations, virtual...
Physical Sciences teachers in under-resourced South African schools often face systemic challenges, including limited access to continuous professional development, inadequate teaching resources, and insufficient support for both content and pedagogy. These challenges frequently result in teacher-centred practices that hinder learners’ development of conceptual understanding and procedural...
The South African education system has had difficulties in delivering quality mathematics and physical science instruction to all students, as demonstrated by the nation's performance in international assessments such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Almost three decades post-apartheid, the education system still fails to ensure fair access to STEM...
