TEACHING COMPLEX FIELDS OF SOFT MATER, PROPOSAL OF A NEW LIQUID CRYSTAL ANALOGY
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2014, Vol 61, Issue 1
Abstract
The key reason behind the richness of different structures and patterns displayed in nature is the universal mechanism of symmetry breaking. It shapes configurations at all length scales encountered in universe. Structures reached via symmetry breaking transitions are commonly described in terms of order parameter fields. One of the simplest systems where symmetry breaking concepts have already been explored in detail, are various liquid crystal (LC) phases. The reason behind this is rich variety of structures exhibited by LCs and their convenient experimental accessibility. Consequently, a wide spectrum of different theoretical tools have been developed in LCs. In this contribution the orientational ordering of housing block in San Francisco, which we choose as a typical large-city representative, was studied. Following nematic LC analogy we determine the local degree of ordering. The structural pattern of the city displays a domain-type pattern. The average degree of ordering within a domain strongly correlates with crime rate within it. Therefore, the results confirm an intuitive expectation that structures define properties. This model can be used as a helpful tool in education as it provides a way of understanding complex topics with the help of well-known every day phenomena.
Authors and Affiliations
Uroš Jagodič, Jacob Staines, Samo Kralj, Robert Repnik
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP447726
- DOI -
- Views 107
- Downloads 0
YOUTH POLICY MONITORING AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
The social capital of youth as a social segment is a major resource to contribute to any country’s social sustainability. Social sustainability requires active youth participation in solving the issues that are important...
THE ROLE OF BIOGRAPHIES IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO UNDERSTANDING HOW SCIENTISTS AND SCIENCE WORKS
In this study it is presented several considerations concerning the elements that biographies could contribute to chemistry education. It is analyzed two particular cases: biographies from two high school chemistry textb...
MEASURING EFFECT OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR COMPUTING EDUCATION IN AFRICAN CONTEXT
A relevant research area in computing education is to explore aspects that motivate and promote learning in culturally responsive learning environments. This research contributes towards understanding how indigenous know...
REFLECTIONS ON EDUCATIONAL EFFECTS IN THE AGE OF CRISES
The beginning of the XXI century can be considered as the decade of “everything”. A crisis, by its own nature, causes destabilization in various areas of social and cultural functioning as it affects the entire system wi...
CAREER IN THE LIGHT OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS
The career usually refers to individuals’ working life, education and training and to life in general. The studies and reports evaluating the relations between these components mainly justify the power of educational att...