Smartphones in the teaching of Physics Laws: Projectile motion

New technologies are called upon to play an important role as beneficial tools for meaningful learning in the classroom. In particular, smartphones can be regarded as pocket computers that, in addition to a remarkable memory and computing capacity, incorporate sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, light sensors, etc., which turn them into easily available measurement instruments for practical classes in an educational environment. In this study, the suitability of these devices for demonstrating Classical Mechanics, minimizing the use of resources and class time, has been assessed in two real classrooms (with 16 to 19 year-old students) by conducting experiments related to projectile motion (vertical free fall and parabolic motion). A simple methodology that only involves a mobile phone, a free burst camera application and open-source tools (GIMP and OpenOffice Calc) for data processing is presented. The results obtained in non-perfected conditions led to an estimate of the acceleration of gravity with an error lower than 2%. Further analyses and alternative procedures are also suggested in the discussion section. No major difficulties were encountered with the high school students or with the first year university ones, and a high degree of satisfaction was found

BYOD for physics lab: Studying Newton's law of cooling with a smartphone

In this paper we discuss a simple and inexpensive method to introduce students to Newton''s law of cooling using only their smartphones, according to the Bring-Your-Own-Device philosophy. A popular experiment in basic thermodynamics, both at a high-school and at University level, is the determination of the specific heat of solids and liquids using a water calorimeter, resourcing in many cases to a mercury thermometer. With our approach the analogical instrument is quickly turned into a digital device by analyzing the movement of the mercury with a video tracker. Tus, using very simple labware and the students'' smartphones or tablets, it is possible to observe the decay behavior of the temperature of a liquid lef to cool at room temperature. Te dependence of the time constant with the mass and surface of the liquid can be easily probed, and the results of the different groups in the classroom can be brought together to observe the linear dependence

Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the European Union with implications for food safety

Soil plays a central role in food safety as it determines the possible composition of food and feed at the root of the food chain. However, the quality of soil resources as defined by their potential impact on human health by propagation of harmful elements through the food chain has been poorly studied in Europe due to the lack of data of adequate detail and reliability. The European Union's first harmonized topsoil sampling and coherent analytical procedure produced trace element measurements fromapproximately 22,000 locations. This unique collection of information enables a reliable overview of the concentration of heavy metals, also referred to as metal(loid)s including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Sb. Co, and Ni. In this article we propose that in some cases (e.g. Hg and Cd) the high concentrations of soil heavy metal attributed to human activity can be detected at a regional level.While the immense majority of European agricultural land can be considered adequately safe for food production, an estimated 6.24% or 137,000 km2 needs local assessment and eventual remediation action

VARIABILIDADE ESPACIAL E TEMPORAL DA MATURAÇÃO DE UVA PARA VINHO - VARIEDADES: ARAGONÊS, TRINCADEIRA.

O conceito de terroir no vinho é baseado na observação de que diferentes regiões, vinhas ou mesmo secções diferentes dentro da mesma vinha, podem produzir vinhos com uma identidade muito própria e bem diferente uns dos outros. Os franceses começaram a cristalizar este conceito como uma maneira de descrever os aspectos originais de um determinado lugar (solo, topografia e clima), que influencia e molda o vinho feito a partir dele. Para uma determinada posição geográfica, podemos considerar que o solo e a topografia são fixos no espaço e no tempo, mas não o clima. Na verdade, dentro da mesma vinha, várias regiões microclimáticas podem ser definidas. Os microclimas de uma determinada vinha afectam diferenciadamente a maturação das uvas, criando dessa forma uma variabilidade espacial e temporal da qualidade da uva. Foram analisadas duas variedades de uva, Aragonês e Trincadeira, e para cada variedade foram estudados, respectivamente, 7 e 6 talhões dentro da vinha do CASITO, pertencente à Fundação Eugénio de Almeida. Nestes talhões e nestas variedades, foi acompanhada a maturação das uvas em três anos consecutivos. Como resultado constatou-se que existe uma variabilidade espacial e temporal da maturação da uva entre castas e dentro da mesma casta, abrindo desta forma, a possibilidade de gerir diferenciadamente cada parcela

Do Texto Ao Contexto: O Programa Ensino Médio Inovador Em Movimento

This article provides an analysis of an educational policy based on the production of its referential texts. For this aim, the theoretical reflections of S. Ball on the Policy Cycle Approach are used. A recent educational policy, the Programa Ensino Médio Inovador (Innovative Middle School Program) - ProEMI, is studied in face of the documents produced in a short period of time as well as the intentions of the Program of bringing about changes in the High Secondary School curricular organization. The analysis points to a hypothesis that the alterations in the documents result, at least in part, from a process of accommodation between what is prescribed by the government agency and the conditions for the implementation of the Program as well as the breadth of the universe of interlocutors involved.249391093

Surface boundary layer characteristics over caatinga vegetation in tropical semiarid region of N-E Brazil

Some characteristic features of the atmospheric surface layer over a tropical semiarid station Petrolina (9.9◦S, 40.22◦W, 365.5 m) in N-E Brazil, are investigated, using data collected from a micrometeorological tower of 9 m height. This study utilizes the wind, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) data obtained for the month of July 2004. The diurnal variation of mean parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and CO2 are studied. Turbulent statistics are computed using the eddy correlation technique, and are studied under the framework of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory with results compared with other experimental studies reported in the literature

Helium isotopes distribution in NW Iberian peninsula: evidences of a local neotectonic activity

In this work we report new data on He abundances and isotope ratios (3He/4He) from gas associated to some thermal and CO2-rich mineral waters in N-Portugal. Collected gas samples are mainly CO2-dominant except two sites where gas is N2-rich. All the sampling sites are characterized by exceptionally high helium contents with 3He/4He ratios, corrected for air contamination, varying considerably from 0.09 to 2.68 Ra. In all sites, the 3He/4He ratios are higher than that typical for stable continental areas thus indicating a variable but not-negligible (up to 30%) contribution of mantle-derived primordial He. In all the CO2-rich waters, CO2/3He ratios and 13CCO2 are comparable with mantle values, thus suggesting a magmatic origin also for CO2. On the contrary, in the N2-rich waters He is mainly radiogenic, and CO2 is organic in origin. Since no recent volcanic activity is observed in NW Iberia, high 3He/4He values could be due, at least, to three processes: a) releasing of gas from the local upper mantle through deep extensional fault systems; b) releasing of magmatic volatiles from crustal reservoir(s) formed during past volcanic activity; c) degassing of a subsurface emplaced magma body. Mantle He flux in N-Portugal has been estimated to be up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that typical for stable continental areas, thus suggesting, in this area, the presence of a tensional tectonic regime. This implies that mantle gases could migrate upward probably through inherited tectonic structures reactivated by neotectonic activity. The third possible scenario seems to be less plausible since seismic surveys carried out in NW Iberian did not find any significant evidence of mantle intrusion in the crust. The observed spatial variability in mantle-derived contribution could reflect the geometry of the granitic plutons in this area, thus supporting the hypotheses of an upper mantle degassing. Alternatively, it could be the result of a lateral migration of magmatic volatiles stored in a crustal reservoir

Development of biodegradable, cellulose-based, essential oil and chitosan drug delivery systems for cosmetic mask applications

The goal of this research was the development of cellulose-based biodegradable drug delivery systems solutions for cosmetic mask applications. Cellulose-based materials derived from natural renewable sources provide a sustainable alternative to nonwoven cosmetic masks derived from nondegradable fossil-based raw materials. An experimental design was executed to assemble the 3D cellulose fibres matrix and the water in oil emulsion comprising the active molecules from Mentha piperita L. Two types of biopolymeric additives were used, one derived from a nano/micro fibrillated cellulose pulp and another one including chitosan. A 3D computational simulation study was performed to enhance porosity and strength properties. The results indicated that the cosmetic face mask optimized prototypes, made from a biodegradable 3D matrix of cellulose fibres and active molecules, are suitable for dermic usePostprint (published version

Nongenotoxic Effects And A Reduction Of The Dxr-induced Genotoxic Effects Of Helianthus Annuus Linné (sunflower) Seeds Revealed By Micronucleus Assays In Mouse Bone Marrow

Background: This research evaluated the genotoxicity of oil and tincture of H. annuus L. seeds using the micronucleus assay in bone marrow of mice. The interaction between these preparations and the genotoxic effects of doxorubicin (DXR) was also analysed (antigenotoxicity test) .Methods: Experimental groups were evaluated at 24-48 h post treatment with N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea (positive control - NEU), DXR (chemotherapeutic), NaCl (negative control), a sunflower tincture (THALS) and two sources of sunflower oils (POHALS and FOHALS). Antigenotoxic assays were carried out using the sunflower tincture and oils separately and in combination with NUE or DXR. Results: For THALS, analysis of the MNPCEs showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250-2,000 mg.Kg-1) and NaCl. A significant reduction in MNPCE was observed when THALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) was administered in combination with DXR (5 mg.Kg-1). For POHALS or FOHALS, analysis of the MNPCEs also showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250-2,000 mg.Kg-1) and NaCl. However, the combination DXR + POHALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) or DXR + FOHALS (2,000 mg.Kg-1) not contributed to the MNPCEs reduction. Conclusions: This research suggests absence of genotoxicity of THALS, dose-, time- and sex-independent, and its combination with DXR can reduce the genotoxic effects of DXR. 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