Chaos in electric circuits: an initial approach

Abstract

In this work, we will present a study on the approach of the chaotic system involved in non-linear electrical circuits in didactic activities in Physics Education, through applet-type online simulators. We designed a non-linear system with electrical circuits. We included elements such as capacitors and resistors, in order to contextualize the concept of chaos, incorporating content that, a priori, is not included in the curriculum of High School. The simulator, called Falstad, will serve as a resource, as a strategy proposal, to introduce concepts of electrical circuits involving a chaotic system and trying to make learning more effective and active through graphics and mathematical modeling from this virtual simulator. The proposed activities will be based on Jerome Bruner's constructivist theory, which is based on the following aspects: teaching by discovery and the proposal of a spiral-shaped curriculum in which the content is proposed in a superficial and in-depth way, according to the student's learning. A questionnaire was used as data collection instruments, as a diagnosis about the subject, a pre-test to measure knowledge about the subjects involved, a list of activities based on the class design and a post-test as evaluation.