Three-dimensional content elements and examples in EoP.
| Dimension | [Content elements of Physics subject] Content elements in EoP | Examples of EoP |
| Knowledge · understanding | [K1] Duality of light and matter |
• (Well-described in a prominent storyline) |
| Process · skills | [P1] Recognizing the problem from a mechanical perspective |
• We cannot picture the journey of a photon or electron in the way we imagined motion in classical mechanics. The example of the two pinholes shows this clearly. |
| [P2] Analyzing and evaluating a double -slit experiment basedon a mechanical view |
• We are not, of course, allowed to assume that all the electrons pass through one of the holes. If this were so, it could not make the slightest difference whether or not the other is covered. But we already know that covering the second hole does make a difference. Since one particle is indivisible, we cannot imagine that it passes through both the holes |
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| [P3] Explaining double-slit experiment and natural phenomena by applying a quantum-mechanical view |
• If we state only what happens to the crowd of electrons when the experiment is repeated, not bothering about the behavior of individual particles, the difference between the ringed and the striped pictures becomes comprehensible. • Radioactive disintegration ⋯ We can foretell approximately how many atoms will disintegrate during the next half-hour, but we cannot say, even in our theoretical descriptions, why just these particular atoms are doomed. • Some of the spectrum lines are very distinct, others are fainter. A distinct line means that a comparatively large number of photons belonging to this particular wave-length are emitted; a faint line means that a comparatively small number of photons belonging to this wave-length are emitted. |
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| Value · attitude | [V1] Scientific utility |
• a very rich variety of facts, achieving, for the most part, splendid agreement between theory and observation. |
| [V2] Sensitivity to nature and science |
• It is hard necessity and not speculation or a desire for novelty which forces us to change the old classical view. ⋯ Changes of view are continually forced upon us by our attempts to understand reality. But it always remains for the future to decide whether we chose the only possible way out and whether or not a better solution of our difficulties could have been found. • But the phenomena ... forced us to give up this view. |
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| [V3] Critical attitude |
• It seems that the new quantum physics resembles somewhat the kinetic theory of matter, since both are of a statistical nature and both refer to great aggregations. But this is not so! In this analogy an understanding not only of the similarities but also of the differences is most important. • But there is also no doubt that quantum physics must still be based on the two concepts: matter and field. |
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| [V4] Curiosity |
• We must then, so to speak, go one floor higher. • Once having chosen this way, we are obliged to go further toward abstraction. • Physics awaits their solution impatiently. |