• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.437-447
• /
• 2014

Learning progressions (LP), which describe how students may develop more sophisticated understanding over a defined period of time, can inform the design of instructional materials and assessment by providing a coherent, systematic measure of what can be regarded as "level appropriate." We developed LPs for the nature of matter for grades K-16. In order to empirically test Korean students, we revised one of the constructs and associated assessment items based on Korean National Science Standards. The assessment was administered to 124 Korean secondary students to measure their knowledge and submicroscopic representations, and to assign them to a level of learning progression for the particle nature of matter. We characterized the level of students' understanding and models of the particle nature of matter, and described how students interpret various representations of atoms and molecules to explain scientific phenomena. The results revealed that students have difficulties in understanding the relationship between the macroscopic and molecular levels of phenomena, even in high school science. Their difficulties may be attributed to a limited understanding of scientific modeling, a lack of understanding of the models used to represent the particle nature of matter, or limited understanding of the structure of matter. This work will inform assessment and curriculum materials development related to the fundamental relationship between macroscopic, observed phenomena and the behavior of atoms and molecules, and can be used to create individualized learning environments. In addition, the results contribute to scientific research literature on learning progressions on the nature of matter.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
• /
• v.73 no.10
• /
• pp.1596-1602
• /
• 2018

We suggest that the dark matter in the universe has quantum entanglement if the dark matter is a Bose-Einstein condensation of ultra-light scalar particles. In this theory, any two regions of a galaxy are quantum entangled due to the quantum nature of the condensate. We calculate the entanglement entropy of a typical galactic halo, which turns out to be at least O(ln(M/m)), where M is the mass of the halo and m is the mass of a dark matter particle. The entanglement can be inferred from the rotation curves of the galaxy or the interference patterns of the dark matter density.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.39-53
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the conceptual structure of subjects related to matter having pre-service elementary school teachers by applying semantic network analysis (SNA). The analyzed concepts in the subjects of matter were 6 words such as 'atom', 'molecule', 'ion', 'electron', 'matter' and 'particle'. The results of SNA of the concepts are as follows : 1. In the semantic network of 'atom', words having a high betweenness centrality were linked with the words based on both the scientific context and the everyday context. 2. The network of 'molecule' was analyzed to be more organized than the network of the 'atom'. 3. In the network of 'ion', the group of words of the scientific context was distinguished from the group of words of the everyday context. 4. The network of 'electron' was analyzed to be more oriented on electricity and magnetism in the field of physics. 5. In the network of 'matter', the words related to compounds were linked with knowledge of history of science. 6. The network of 'particle' was not structured with words based on particulate nature of matter.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the 7th national science curriculum (chemistry domain) regarding the meanings of ‘mulgil' (Korean), the particulate nature of matter, and the state of matter. It was found that the term of ‘mulgil' was being used vaguely as representing material, matter, or substance without clear definition. This was problematic by reason that it could hinder students from having the concept of substance. Regarding the particulate nature of matter, molecule was introduced as a basic unit of matter at grade 7, prior to atom and ion, which were introduced at grade 9 and 10, respectively. It is necessary to reconsider the sequence of each particle concept to provide students with more consistent and comprehensive understanding of structure of matter. In the case of change of state, key concepts such as conservation of matter or reversibility were omitted in the curriculum document, and explanations based on various aspects of particles were somewhat insufficient. The concept of matter is fundamental to chemistry, and we must recognize it as a concept that needs to be taught clearly. Implications for curriculum revision were discussed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2018

Particulate matter (PM) in dust causes serious pathological conditions, and it has been considered a critical health issue for many years. Respiratory disorders such as bronchitis, asthma, and chronic inflammation, are the most common illnesses due to PM that appears as dust. There is evidence that cardiovascular and neurological abnormalities are caused by PM. Although an extensive amount of work has been conducted on this topic, including studies on the nature of the particles, particle size measurements, particle distribution upon inhalation, the health effects of fine particles, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, to this date, there is still a considerable lack of knowledge in these areas. Therefore, the identification of the key components that cause diseases owing to PM, and the specific diagnoses of the diseases, is important. This review will explore the current literature on the origin and nature of PM and their effects on human health. In addition, it will also highlight the approaches that have been adopted in order to diagnose the effects of PM using positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.147-160
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare the elementary science curriculum and textbooks of Korea, the United States, Japan, and Singapore to know how the contents on particulate concept of matter is introduced and expressed. In Korea, particulate concept of matter was adopted as a term for 'molecules' in the 3rd through 6th curriculum, and the term for 'particles' was adopted in the 2009 revised curriculum. In the United States, NGSS adopted the term 'particle' in fifth grade. Japan presented the concept of 'particle' as a core concept of matter in the commentary, and the expressions 'particles' were being introduced in the textbooks. But it did not cover particulate nature of matter at the elementary school level in Singapore. An analysis of elementary textbooks in Korea, the United States and Japan except Singapore showed particulate expressions in 'dissolution', 'state change of water', 'gas pressure and volume', 'combustion and extinguishment' units. Korean textbook was only being introduced in 'dissolution' and 'gas pressure and volume', but in the textbooks of Japan and the United States, water was expressed as particles in 'state change of water' unit. Discussion and implication on the introduction of particulate concept to elementary science curriculum and textbooks were suggested based on the results.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.39-54
• /
• 2019

This paper presents comprehensive scientific details about mangrove soil in Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat. A total of ten sites were studied during November, 2011 to December, 2014 in order to know the physico-chemical characteristics of mangrove soil. The results indicated that the soil in GoK had silty loam texture. Other physico-chemical parameters ranged as; pH: 7.39-7.61, Bulk Density: 0.30 g/㎤-0.54 g/㎤, Particle Density: 1.26 g/㎤-1.76 g/㎤, Organic Carbon: 0.70%-1.13%, Organic Matter: 1.01%-1.74% and Moisture Content: 33.45%-56.38%. The paper would be useful to the stakeholders, coastal managers and scientific communities to know the mangrove soil conditions of Gulf of Kachchh for management and planning for conservation of mangrove ecosystem.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.432-442
• /
• 2000

In this study, the contents of 'electric current' and 'battery' units in elementary and middle school science textbooks were analyzed on the basis of particle and energy concepts. Many problems, reported previously on students' misconceptions about those area, were found in science textbooks. Electric current and battery were covered in both physics and chemistry parts of science textbooks. However, the lack of particle concept in physics units and the lack of energy concept in chemistry units seemed to make it difficult for students to learn those concepts. The descriptions about the two concepts were also not consistent even in the same discipline units. In order to solve these problems, the integration of the views on the particulate nature of matter and energy in the science curriculum and reconstruction of science textbooks were needed.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2003

Observations of dark matter dominated dwarf and low surface brightness disk galaxies favor density profiles with a flat-density core, while cold dark matter (CDM) N-body simulations form halos with central cusps, instead. This apparent discrepancy has motivated a re-examination of the microscopic nature of the dark matter in order to explain the observed halo profiles, including the suggestion that CDM has a non-gravitational self-interaction. We study the formation and evolution of self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) halos. We find analytical, fully cosmological similarity solutions for their dynamics, which take proper account of the collisional interaction of SIDM particles, based on a fluid approximation derived from the Boltzmann equation. The SIDM particles scatter each other elastically, which results in an effective thermal conductivity that heats the halo core and flattens its density profile. These similarity solutions are relevant to galactic and cluster halo formation in the CDM model. We assume that the local density maximum which serves as the progenitor of the halo has an initial mass profile ${\delta}M / M {\propto} M^{-{\epsilon}$, as in the familiar secondary infall model. If $\epsilon$ = 1/6, SIDM halos will evolve self-similarly, with a cold, supersonic infall which is terminated by a strong accretion shock. Different solutions arise for different values of the dimensionless collisionality parameter, $Q {\equiv}{\sigma}p_br_s$, where $\sigma$ is the SIDM particle scattering cross section per unit mass, $p_b$ is the cosmic mean density, and $r_s$ is the shock radius. For all these solutions, a flat-density, isothermal core is present which grows in size as a fixed fraction of $r_s$. We find two different regimes for these solutions: 1) for $Q < Q_{th}({\simeq} 7.35{\times} 10^{-4}$), the core density decreases and core size increases as Q increases; 2) for $Q > Q_{th}$, the core density increases and core size decreases as Q increases. Our similarity solutions are in good agreement with previous results of N-body simulation of SIDM halos, which correspond to the low-Q regime, for which SIDM halo profiles match the observed galactic rotation curves if $Q {\~} [8.4 {\times}10^{-4} - 4.9 {\times} 10^{-2}]Q_{th}$, or ${\sigma}{\~} [0.56 - 5.6] cm^2g{-1}$. These similarity solutions also show that, as $Q {\to}{\infty}$, the central density acquires a singular profile, in agreement with some earlier simulation results which approximated the effects of SIDM collisionality by considering an ordinary fluid without conductivity, i.e. the limit of mean free path ${\lambda}_{mfp}{\to} 0$. The intermediate regime where $Q {\~} [18.6 - 231]Q_{th}$ or ${\sigma}{\~} [1.2{\times}10^4 - 2.7{\times}10^4] cm^2g{-1}$, for which we find flat-density cores comparable to those of the low-Q solutions preferred to make SIDM halos match halo observations, has not previously been identified. Further study of this regime is warranted.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2020

Soil physical and chemical properties at three layers such as top (0-10 cm), middle (10-20 cm) and bottom (20-30 cm) layers under three different vegetation types were studied. Soil samples were collected from Acacia forest, vegetable and fallow lands of Chittagong university campus, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Results showed that sand was the dominant soil particle followed by clay and silt fractions in all soil depths under different vegetation types. Soils of fallow land showed the highest values of bulk density while forest soils had the lowest values at three depths. Acacia forest soil having lowest values of dispersion ratio (DR) is less vulnerable while fallow soil with highest DR values is more vulnerable to soil erosion. The lower pH value at all soil layers in three ecosystems represented that soils under study are acidic in nature. Contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Na⁺) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were observed higher in Acacia forest soils compared to vegetable and fallow soils. Only soils of vegetable land had higher level of available phosphorus in three layers than that of other two land covers. The study also revealed that different soil properties were observed in three different vegetation types might be due to variation in vegetation and agronomic practices.