Pixel International Conferences

The world of physics is always discovering new concepts and ideas in the subatomic physics category.  Subatomic physics studies the simplest building blocks of our universe, observing matter at a scale of one one-thousandth of the size of a nucleus. University students are given the opportunity to explore these discoveries through updated physics courses and research opportunities available. Secondary students around the world are not as fortunate. Mainly, most material included in secondary physics courses are pre-20thcentury classical mechanics. The article demonstrates that in most countries, subatomic physics topics are placed at the end of the curriculum, as optional, if at all. A subtopic illustrates how teachers feel more confident in teaching subatomic physics versus astronomy, a more popular topic. The article further explores the achievements secondary physics students have accomplished with subatomic physics being included in their curriculum.  In Europe, twenty students of age twelve completed a study which taught the students subatomic physics. Overall, the students understanding of elementary particles improved immensely. In the article, the details of this study are included and how subatomic physics should be taught in a way that the results will be positive. When secondary students are given the opportunity, young bright minds can help discover the pieces of the subatomic puzzle that are absent. Subatomic physics will change our understanding of the world and help establish our place in the cosmos. [5] Subatomic physics should be included as a standard topic in secondary school curriculum. The students are being deprived the opportunity to be a part of the subatomic physics research community. Students who express interest in subatomic physics in secondary school will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the thought-provoking topic in post-secondary institutions. Incorporating subatomic physics in secondary school curriculum could essentially lead a student to be the next prospect that introduces a great discovery in the subatomic physics world.

Keywords: subatomic physics, nucleus, elementary particles, cosmos.

References:

[1] Kapucu, S., & Yıldırım, U. (2012). Prospective Physics Teachers’ Views on Their Knowledge about the New Concepts in Turkish High School Physics Curricula. Retrieved May 4, 2020, from
http://www.eu-journal.org/index.php/EJPE/article/view/113/112.
[2] Chung, E. (2017, September 28). Canadian teens hunt subatomic particles that have eluded scientists for decades | CBC News. Retrieved from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/charging-cavaliers-cern-1.4307858
[3] Wiener, G. J., Schmeling, S. M., & Hopf, M. (2015). Can Grade-6 students understand quarks? Probing acceptance of the subatomic structure of matter with 12-year-olds. 3(4), 313–322. Retrieved from
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1107802.pdf.