Vol. 60 No. 2 Jul-Dec (2014): Revista Mexicana de Física E

Published: 2014-01-01

Artículos

  • Evaluación del entendimiento de los estudiantes en la representación vectorial utilizando un test con opciones múltiples en español

    P. Barniol, G. Zavala
    86-0
    Abstract:
    In a previous article [1] we presented an overview of the instrument ``Test of Understanding of Vectors'' (TUV) in English that evaluates students' understanding in vector concepts. This test was originally designed by us in Spanish (TUV-Spanish) and afterwards in English. The three objectives of this study are: 1) to present the test in Spanish and its design process, 2) to show that it is a reliable evaluation instrument with satisfactory discriminatory power following the analyses recommended by Ding et al. [2], and 3) to analyze the understanding in each of the vector concepts evaluated in the test of 585 students completing the introductory physics courses in a private Mexican university. The article has diverse implications. The design process and the reliable analyses presented in the article can be used by researchers that want to design multiple-choice tests. On the other hand, the analysis of students' understanding and the test in Spanish (that is included at the end of the article) can be employed by physics teachers that teaches vector concepts in Spanish-speaking countries.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • Different creation-destruction operators' ordering, quasi-probabilities, and Mandel parameter

    F.~Pennini., A.~Plastino.
    103-0
    Abstract:
    In this work we provide an introductory discussion to quasi-probabilities in quantum optics and how to use them for evaluating the Mandel parameter.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • The four particles paradox in special relativity

    J.M. García-Islas
    107-0
    Abstract:
    We present a novel paradox in special relativity together with its solution. We call it the four particles paradox. The purpose of this paradox is pedagogical and therefore directed towards students and lecturers of physics. Even if most paradoxes in special relativity theory are very interrelated and some are special cases of others, the paradox we present here is original and illuminates on the very nice subject and the literature of special relativity.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • Herramienta para la enseñanza de las ecuaciones de Lagrange basada en la simulación de sistemas dinámicos

    D.A. Bravo M., C.F. Rengifo R.
    111-0
    Abstract:
    In this paper we propose a tool for the teaching of classical mechanics, modeling dynamic systems with equations of \emph{Lagrange}, from the simulation in Matlab\circledR. This approach allows students to basic science and engineering, develop skills in programming, numerical analysis, with the use of physics as a fundamental tool for modeling and simulating complex dynamical systems, such as: industrial robots, biped robots and mechanical systems for the purpose of analyzing and studying their kinematic and dynamic properties. This methodology was tested in the course of Dynamical Systems, University of Cauca, proving to be a quick and easy tool for students learning program in Industrial Automation Engineering.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • La Escuela Nacional de Ingenieros, fundamental en el nacimiento de la física profesional en México

    G. Tanamachi Castro, M. de la Paz Ramos Lara
    116-0
    Abstract:
    The Escuela Nacional de Ingenieros (National School of Engineers), which origin was the prestigious Real Seminario de Minería (Royal School of Mines), stood out as the most important higher education institution in its field in Mexico, depositary of the largest number and highest level of courses in physics and mathematics. Because of this, its teachers were the most suitable to collaborate with the first effort in establishing specialized studies in physics, at the Escuela Nacional de Altos Estudios (National School for Advanced Studies) as well as at its successor, the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras (Faculty of Philosophy and Literature). As the project did not crystallize in these entities, some engineers gave their support to engineer Ricardo Monges López, who managed changes in the legislation of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He also took advantage of the existing resources in the Palace of Mines (subjects, professors, classrooms, laboratories and library, among others) to initiate and then strengthen the physics career and the Institute of Physics at the aforementioned University, both the first in its field created in Mexico.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • El problema de la medición en mecánica cuántica

    E. Okon
    130-0
    Abstract:
    Quantum mechanics is probably the most successful physical theory in the history of humanity. This is so even though the structure of the theory is such that, in order to use it, it is necessary to introduce observers external to the studied system. This feature drove influential founders of the theory to the conclusion that science must limit itself to offer descriptions of what is observed and that it should forget the desire to construct a complete image of the world. However, in this text we show that such position is not justified and that a better answer to the problem is to look for new physics that shares the empirical success with the standard theory but which corrects its conceptual limitations. Moreover, we present three concrete alternatives that (up to a point) achieve the former.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary

  • Perturbaciones y acoplamientos en un oscilador no lineal: el caso del oscilador salino

    M. Alarcón, H. González, J. García, A. Falcón-Neri, A. Torres, A. Cabrera-Manuel, H. Arce
    141-0
    Abstract:
    Nonlinear Dynamics has had a considerable boom in recent decades. This growth in partially explained because of its scope not being restricted to physics or mathematics, but extends to biology, medicine, economy, finances, robotics, and many other areas. Among the characteristic phenomena that may occur in these systems is the emergence of non-linear oscillations with a robust attractor cycle, i.e., phenomena that repeat on a regular basis and when are disturbed they return to their natural cycle of oscillation. A very important procedure to study them is the analysis of their behavior when are periodically forced. Despite the importance of these phenomena, their study is absent from the majority of undergraduate physics programs. A reason for that could be the complexity of many experimental set up employed to analyze them. This article presents a very simple experimental device: the saline oscillator, which allows a clear, direct and highly visual way for teaching the perturbation effect on nonlinear oscillators.
    ⬇️ Scroll down to see the full summary