Abstract
The writing of a didactic text, dissertation, thesis or scientific report or project, requires covering several steps in common, from an appropriate bibliographic search and careful reading of the important papers to be cited, to the writing of the first draft, as the basis for the changes that will result in the final version. Formatting the pages and organizing the tables, figures and the written summary, among other topics, need attention and dedication so that the desired quality is achieved. This text is intended to indicate the steps to be followed by those who need to write scientific-technical texts.
Keywords
writing, technical and scientific text, text formatting, projects, reports, dissertations, theses, publications, patents
Author
Marco-Aurélio De Paoli
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química
Translated by
João C. de Andrade
Revised by
Carol H. Collins
Abstract
Many students think that density is simply the result of an arithmetic operation of division between mass and volume of a substance, but this concept is much broader and is related to others, such as compression and packing. For example, the greater the packing of atoms the more dense is the substance. Similarly, the greater the compression on an object, the greater will be its density. In this work only the most direct and most common laboratory techniques involved in the determination of the densities of solids and liquids will be discussed, but it is worth a more profound description of the concept of density. The proposed experiment, conceptual and methodological in character, has duration of two hours of activities in the laboratory, with a low level of risk.
Keywords
density, absolute density, relative density, chemical properties, physical properties
Authors
Janaína Cesar
Marco-Aurélio De Paoli
João Carlos de Andrade
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química
Translated by
João C. de Andrade
Revised by
Carol H. Collins
Warning
Attention: “Read carefully the procedure before starting the experiment. Do not perform the experiment without being monitored by your teacher. In doubt ask for help!”
Abstract
This proposed activity involves a playful example of the application of the scientific method. It is based on the discovery of the identity of an object which is inside a closed box and known only by the lecturer. The box remains untouched during the activity, and students are encouraged to find out what is the object inside. The way to solve the problem is through sequential questions asked by students to the lecturer. Each student can ask one question or can attempt an answer. The lecturer will respond only YES or NO. Obviously the identification of the object that is inside the box is becoming more likely, since the number of responses (positive and negative) is increasing. As this activity allows a great interaction between the students and the lecturer, it is suggested that its implementation may take place on the first day of class with entering students, to enable an effective integration at the beginning of the academic activities. The correlation between this activity and the scientific method can be explained by the lecturer, citing as example the development of the atomic model, which evolved by the systematic application of scientific method.
Keywords
scientific method, experiments in science, closed box, scientific law, deductive process, interactivity, guessing game
Author
Edvaldo Sabadini
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química
Translated by
João C. de Andrade
Revised by
Carol H. Collins
