This research examined articles about models and modelling in the context of science education in Turkey by using content analysis method. Two specific academic databases; one of which was Dergipark, a platform including the academic journals published in Turkey, and Scholar Google were examined in detail so that totally 71 articles on models and…

To span the great distance from the solar system to the farthest clusters of galaxies in the universe, astronomers break down the distance indicators into steps. The nearest ones are measured geometrically, with what is known as parallax. Among the objects whose distances are thus directly measured are a rare type of star known as a Cepheid…

This theoretical analysis addresses "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences" (Wigner, 1960). For example, how is it that ellipses--constructed by Greek geometers nearly two millennia before Kepler used them--provide such precise models for describing planetary motion? Historical models of gravity and…

This article describes a unit in which students investigate total solar eclipses, such as the one coming August 21, from several perspectives. It incorporates mathematical thinking and aligns with the "Next Generation Science Standard." This article refers to physical, virtual, and mathematical modeling. Various models and perspectives…

This article begins with an exploration of the origins of the Gregorian Calendar. Next it describes the function of school inspector Christian Zeller (1822-1899) used to determine the number of the elapsed days of a year up to and including a specified date and how Zeller's function can be used to determine the number of days that have elapsed in…

Early in 2010, a group of year 11 students (age 15-16) studying GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) Astronomy at The Radclyffe School, Oldham, in the UK, teamed up with a similar age group from Tianyi High School, Wuxi City, in China, to undertake a joint astronomy investigation. This article outlines the outcome of the first stage…

By means of a simple mathematical model developed by the authors, the apparent movement of the Sun can be studied for arbitrary latitudes. Using this model, it is easy to gain insight into various phenomena, such as the passage of the seasons, dependences of position and time of sunrise or sunset on a specific day of year, day duration for…

For a given orbital period and eccentricity, we determine the maximum time lapse between the winter solstice and the spring equinox on a planet. In addition, given an axial precession path, we determine the effects on the seasons. This material can be used at various levels to illustrate ideas such as periodicity, eccentricity, polar coordinates,…

This exploratory study determined whether a mathematical model of mastery learning provided a good fit for achievement data obtained from student progress in an introductory, college-level astronomy course for nonmajors. Results provide positive but not compelling evidence that the model of mastery learning is correct. (JN)

Reviews the current state of knowledge obtained by means of observations using the increasingly powerful or proficient instruments of astrophysics, radio astronomy, and space astronomy by satellite. In conclusion, he refers to certain mathematical entities introduced into the theory of the origins and evolution of the cosmos. (Author/MA)

Points out the importance of an understanding of a sense of scale and presents an activity that uses distance or time as a measure. The activity illustrates for students what the universe would look like at various scales. (DDR)

Describes a technique whereby qualitatively correct models of differentially rotating degenerate stars may be constructed by simple methods available to undergraduate students. (Author/JN)

Describes an activity, designed to comply with the National Science Education Standards, that integrates science and mathematics concepts. Mathematical modeling of the moon's phases is employed to show students the role of mathematics in describing scientific phenomena. (DKM)

Discusses aspects of Christopher Columbus' decision to sail west in order to reach Asia. Includes discussions concerning the shape and size of the earth as determined up to Columbus' time and conclusions he made during the journey based on his calculations. (MDH)

Observing the relationship of general relativity and the geometry of space-time, the author questions whether the rest of physics has geometrical explanations. As a partial answer he discusses current research on subatomic particles employing geometric transformations, and cites the existence of geometrical definitions of physical quantities such…