INTEGRATING THE HISTORY OF ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS IN TEACHING
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Abstract
The topics “Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity” and “Quantum Physics” in the Grade 12 Physics curriculum involve concepts such as photons and subatomic particles, which are highly abstract. However, the current curriculum does not include experiments that can illustrate or verify these concepts in classroom settings. This paper proposes an approach to teaching selected content from these topics by integrating the history of physics into lesson planning. The research methodology consists of reviewing the historical development of atomic and nuclear physics up to 1945, synthesizing and selecting key events, stories, and landmark experiments, and designing suitable learning activities. The integration of historical narratives and the scientific discovery process into instruction is expected to increase student engagement and support the development of physics competencies, such as conceptual understanding and the ability to explore nature from a physics perspective.
Keywords: physics competence, history of physics, nuclear physics and radioactivity, historical integration.
Keywords
physics competency, history of physics, nuclear physics and radioactivity, historical integration
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References
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