Teaching quantum physics in the footsteps of Einstein

Abstract

A teaching-learning sequence designed to introduce some fundamental concepts of quantum physics to high school teachers is proposed. Some parts of the proposal can be adapted to be taught to advanced high school students themselves. The inspiration came from the recognition of the fact that the roots of many pivotal concepts of quantum physics, namely light quanta, wave-particle duality, and probability, were introduced for the first time in some paper by Albert Einstein. Moreover, this was done in a characteristically deep and illuminating way. A critical study of Einstein’s papers should therefore be useful for teachers and students as well, in view of the fact that such concepts are often misconceived. The teaching-learning sequence can supplement usual historically oriented treatments of elementary quantum physics and can in turn be complemented by a discussion of some elementary tools of statistical physics, which may be not part of the learners’ background. Preliminary results obtained with both teachers and pupils in high schools in southern Italy, which are very promising, are presented.