As potencialidades do software Tracker no estudo da óptica física: videoanálises aplicadas em práticas experimentais

Abstract

Experimental classes in Physics teaching have always been essential to help in understanding the phenomena that are linked to the contents addressed in the classroom. Starting from concrete situations through experimentation, the teacher presents the student with the possibility of interacting with the object of study, linking problems to be addressed by the relationship between theory and practice. A very pertinent problem in Physics laboratories in most Brazilian teaching institutions is the shortage of equipment needed to carry out experiments, especially when it involves in-depth data analysis in the study of some phenomena. This is due to the high cost associated with some equipment that makes it possible to carry out experimental practices. In an attempt to get around this problem, professors and researchers in the field of education have proposed and developed a series of low-cost experimental apparatuses that allow at least a qualitative analysis of the phenomena involved. However, the educational scenario caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 and 2021, made it difficult or impossible to carry out experimental activities in laboratories. All activities that took place in conventional teaching had to be adapted to remote teaching. This scenario, however, triggered changes in the educational scope that allowed teachers to improve their pedagogical practice and learn to know different learning tools that allow them to assist in the teaching/learning process both in face-to-face and remote mode. One of the changes is the use of new technologies, which are intended to enable an interaction between experimental practice and the content taught in Physics classes. This research presents the contribution of video analysis with the Tracker software in the study of Optics phenomena applied in experimental Physics classes, involving the study of diffraction, interference and polarization of electromagnetic waves. As a product of this master's degree, we developed instructional material to support the study of Optics/Physics concepts, approaching the potential of Tracker as a facilitating resource in the teaching/learning process. For data analysis, two questionnaires were elaborated, the first one, with the intention of evaluating the previous knowledge of the participants, and the second questionnaire to evaluate the contributions of the referred work after the application of the activities. As for the approach, this research presents a qualitative character and as for its nature, it is applied.