Aprendizagem do conceito de relatividade da simultaneidade, através do uso de um aparato experimental

Abstract

The Modern Physics insertion in High School, along with its postulates and theoretical patterns that can’t be practiced or demonstrated, brings additional difficulties to the Physics teaching-learning process. A feasible alternative to minimize the problems consists in carrying out experiments analogue to certain events of the Modern Physics. Another problem consists in the lack of skilled high-school graduated teachers in order to work with the new context. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the construction process of the Relativity of Simultaneity, concept through the use of an experimental apparatus, with students of Physics of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). Thus, it was chosen the Personal Construct Theory as a methodological-theoretical purpose, and it was developed an experimental appararatus, involving an electronic circuit to control a LED (light-emitting diode), matrix that permits analogies with a light beam behavior interacting with different obstacles. The results showed that the developed experimental pattern was decisive concerning the promotion of cognitive conflicts, making students review their initial concepts and consequently, reorganize them, considering some aspects as: time, distance, constancy of the light speed and events that happen at the same time, which are essential to the purpose concept comprehension; The Relativity of Simultaneity.