Metodologias para o ensino de astronomia e Física através da construção de telescópios

Abstract

This work contemplates the construction of reflecting telescopes as didactic tool for Physics and Astronomy teaching. Each stage of the construction can be linked with the contents of geometric optics and optical physics with different approaches, depending on the education level of working: Fundamental, High-School or Graduation. It was possible to verify that the construction of reflecting telescopes of the Newtonian type shows up as accessible and easily understood by graduated students involved in the project, turning the learning of Physics and other related sciences as motivating and efficient. In the other hand, the construction of the reflecting telescope of Cassegrain type must be considered only when involving students of graduation level, because it concerns more complex processes in the accomplishment and analysis of the primary and secondary mirror surfaces. Moreover, the development of the apparatus construction yields the creation of the Group of Studies of Astronomy in the Department of Physics of the Unesp, campus of Bauru, where subjects related to astronomy education have been treated and discussed jointly with students and teachers of Fundamental and High School levels. Our conclusion is that the use of the telescopes to teach students of Fundamental and High School levels has been a great incentive to the observation of the sky and to the comprehension of many celestial phenomena, relating them to contents of Physics and also other sciences, such as Mathematics, Geography, Environmental education and Meteorology.