Assessment of Mathematics Textbooks Potential in Terms of Student’s Motivation and Comprehension

This paper discusses the role and influence of textbooks in mathematics teaching and learning in lower secondary school in the Republic of Kosovo. In particular, it focuses on their potential in enhancing student’s motivation and comprehension to engage in mathematical learning. Rivers matrix and Skovsmose’s learning milieus are two methods involved in analyzing the mathematics textbooks in current use in grades 6 – 9 of lower secondary school. Rivers matrix identifies key factors of the textbook content with direct impact on student motivation and comprehension. Subsequently their degree and quality of presence are examined. Using Skovsmose’s learning milieus, textbook tasks and examples are scrutinized according to the extent in which they are embedded in contexts that make connections to real life. Further on, the organizing structure of content and the range of used or proposed teaching and learning activities throughout the textbooks is discussed. The article is the first of its kind in Kosovo and it has provided valuable data regarding the functionality level of the above mentioned textbooks. Keywords: Comprehension, Mathematics textbooks, Motivation, Textbook analysi

The Doppler effect and the three most famous experiments for special relativity

Using the general formula for the Doppler effect at any arbitrary angle, the three famous experiments for special theory of relativity will be examined. Explanation of the experiments of Michelson, Kennedy–Thorndike and Ives–Stilwell will be given in a precise and elegant way without postulates, arbitrary assumptions or approximations. Keywords: Doppler effect, Michelson experiment, Kennedy–Thorndike experiment, Ives–Stilwell experimen

Geometric representation of the Galilean transformation

Galilean transformation is a set of equations in Galilean relativity that relate the space and time coordinates of two reference frames moving at a constant velocity to each other. In this paper, all equations of Galilean transformation will be derived using the geometrical method, concretely using a space–time diagram. But this powerful method of derivation reveals a new Galilean transformation. The credibility of the geometrical method and the fact that the wave equation is invariant to the transformed Galilean transformation make this new Galilean transformation respectable. Moreover, the transformed Galilean transformation reinforces the principle of relativity, making this principle unique to all physics

The Doppler effect and similar triangles

The Euclidean version of Doppler effect will be explained using the properties of similar triangles. These properties will serve to explain the relationship between frequencies of propagated wavefronts, number of wavefronts and the time of emitting and receiving of these wavefronts. This explanation of Doppler effect represents not only a new method of obtaining equations which deal with Doppler effect, but using this geometric construction we will have an easier and deep understanding of some problems related to this effect, such as the general formulas of the Doppler effect and time Doppler effect, which are replaced by the new proposed formulas. Keywords: Similar triangles, Doppler effect, Relative velocit