Ensino de tópicos de física moderna usando a temática de irradiação de alimentos

Abstract

This work aimed to develop an Educational Product in the form of a didactic sequence designed for 2nd-year high school classes. The central theme is Food Irradiation, and the active methodology chosen is Peer Instruction (PI), proposed by Mazur, applied with the help of the Plickers app. During the teaching process, students were encouraged to participate in debates related to the topic, with the application of PI at the end of each session. Additionally, an interactive game titled "Which Band?" was used to explore the electromagnetic spectrum, along with a homemade spectrograph built with the students during the lesson, and a model of an X-ray tube to explain how these rays are produced. Teaching Modern Physics topics aims to enrich students' education by promoting the development of valuable skills, such as scientific literacy, interest in science, critical thinking, and preparation for higher education. The choice of the food irradiation theme is justified by its interdisciplinary nature and relevance for understanding concepts and applications in various fields, including physics, chemistry, microbiology, food safety, public health, sustainability, and the environment. Food irradiation, carried out using ionizing radiation, aims to increase the shelf life of products and reduce contamination risks. This safe and efficient alternative proves promising in extending the shelf life of food and minimizing harvest losses. Through this work, it is expected that students will become multipliers of the importance of Modern Physics in our daily lives and acquire the knowledge that ionizing radiation is safe for various purposes, as long as it is used appropriately.