Radiação ultravioleta no ensino de física: uma abordagem didática investigativa

Abstract

Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) is present in a wide range of technological applications, from food sterilization to the investigation of hidden images in artworks or historical documents. However, UV radiation can also pose risks to human health, increasing the risk of skin cancer, premature aging, and vision problems such as cataracts, muscular degeneration, pterygium, and corneal burns. Thus, it is noted to be a topic with rich didactic, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary potential that can be addressed in Physics Education from an investigative perspective. Therefore, as an Educational Product, a prototype has been developed that allows teachers and students to investigate UV levels in specific locations and situations. The materials used for the construction of the prototype were relatively easy to access, specifically the ESP32 development board and the LM8511 sensor as the central component for capturing radiation, both commonly used in the field of electronics and educational robotics. Once developed, the prototype was applied to a class of third-year high school students at Myriam Coeli State School, located in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Following an Inquiry-Based Learning approach, the application was based on five stages: problematization and hypothesis generation, knowledge systematization, work plan elaboration, experimental setup assembly and data collection, data analysis, and conclusion. The device used in the teaching proposal was developed through comparative tests among different sensors to select the most suitable one. After this process, it was compared with the UV indices provided by the INPE and showed similar results. The main findings indicate that the prototype is viable for didactic applications in investigative activities, particularly in Physics Education in Basic Education, enabling discussions and critical-reflexive practices with a focus on the relationships between Science, Technology, Society, and the Environment (STSE).