Quarked! Mass Matters

Name: Quarked! Mass Matters
Author: University of Kansas

University of Kansas

EVALUATED

Assessed by researchers — mixed findings

For:General Public & EnthusiastsKids & Youth

Free

Download on the App Store

App Summary

'Quarked! Mass Matters' is an educational game designed for elementary and middle school-aged children that uses interactive challenges, such as navigating particles through a Higgs field, to teach fundamental physics concepts like mass and density. Developed by a collaboration of physicists, designers, and educators, the associated research investigated whether exposing children to subatomic physics in a fun and user-friendly way could make these abstract concepts understandable. The authors designed the project to test if this material is relevant for students, with the goal of motivating interest in science and math.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by the University of Kansas as part of the Quarked! project, this educational game delivers pedagogical content on particle physics and density. The system functions through two distinct modules. The initial module simulates particle interaction with the Higgs field, allowing for the determination of mass. The subsequent module presents a time-based underwater challenge that leverages the concept of density, using particles identified in the first stage. The interface facilitates exploration of abstract subatomic concepts within an interactive, game-based framework.

Evidence & Research Context

The app is a component of the 'Quarked! Adventures in the Subatomic Universe' project, developed to engage elementary and middle school students with particle physics.
Associated research describes the project's pedagogical framework, which aims to make abstract, subatomic concepts accessible and engaging for young learners through interactive media.
The project's development involved a multidisciplinary team of physicists, designers, and museum educators to ensure scientific accuracy and user-friendly design for the target age group.

Intended Use & Scope

This system is designed as a supplementary educational tool for elementary and middle school students and educators. Its primary utility is to provide a conceptual, game-based introduction to particle physics, including the Higgs mechanism and density. The app simplifies complex scientific topics for learning purposes and does not constitute a comprehensive curriculum.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Evaluation Study

The multimedia project Quarked!

Bean et al. (2011) · arXiv

Assessment conducted but results on engagement or understanding were not clearly reported.

Can exposure to fundamental ideas about the nature of matter help motivate children in math and science and support the development of their understanding of these ideas later? Physicists, designers, and museum educators at the University of Kansas created the Quarked!(tm) Adventures in the subatomic Universe project to provide an opportunity for youth to explore the subatomic world in a fun and user friendly way. The project components include a website (located at http://www.quarked.org) and hands-on education programs. These are described and assessment results are presented. Questions addressed include the following. Can you engage elementary and middle school aged children with concepts related to particle physics? Can young children make sense of something they can't directly see? Do teachers think the material is relevant to their students?