We propose to reconsider the well-known experiment about the interference of white light from a thin soap film by adopting as an illuminating source the RGB triad produced by a LED projector. The interference pattern shows up in a particularly fascinating way and it contains direct, essential information about both the wave nature of light and of…

We designed and tested a 3D motion tracking system which displays acquired and derived data using augmented reality. This setup, based on a virtual reality headset and its controllers, is a relatively low-cost, high-precision, six degrees of freedom, high-speed, multiple-objects tracking device. This apparatus proves to be a very high-quality…

In times of the explosion of distance learning, because of emergency due to the pandemic, smartphone sensors and cameras are extremely valuable for teachers as they allow students to perform significant experimental activities in their own homes. The open-source software Tracker can be used in combination with the smartphone camera to perform…

We present an educational approach to the phenomenon of phosphorescent emission. The approach is based on a stochastic toy model, in which electron states are represented by rows of squares on a cardboard table, and coins on the squares switch from one row to the other based on the roll of two dice. The discussion of different mechanisms, giving…

In this article we present simple and low-cost experiments about the polarization of light. We use an LCD monitor or an RGB LED light bulb with a Polaroid as a source of polarized radiation, a polarizer sheet as an analyzer, and a smartphone camera to measure light intensities. Thus, using a digital camera to acquire videos students can explore in…

The difficulties students have in blending mathematics and physics are here analyzed, by focusing on the issue of a convergent series. We present an experimental and a theoretical analysis of some phenomena which can be investigated employing series, as the bouncing marble and Zeno's paradox of Achilles and the turtle. Measurements were carried…