Raising Historical Awareness and Bringing History to New Generations

Abstract

By presenting students with relevant background information, comparative timelines, and leading theories as to why events unfolded as they did, we can bring sometimes forgotten events to new generations of students. As teachers, we are always looking for ways to bring historical events and real-world applications of physics to our students while still covering appropriate topics. Re-examining a major historical event is a powerful, sometimes forgotten, means of piquing students’ interest, particularly those who are more disposed to a liberal arts focus. In this chapter,

we investigate the disappearance of the Lady Be Good, a B-24 World War II bomber that mysteriously vanished on April 3, 1943 (see Figure 3.1). The anniversary of plane’s disappearance can be used to bring it to the attention of new generations of students; namely, those enrolled in our courses. This anniversary is a somber, but powerful way of raising historical awareness in our students while still adhering to the typical physics curriculum. For example, teachers can provide students with background information on the plane’s crew, final voyage, and disappearance. Pictures and eye witness testimonies can be used to more artistically portray the accompanying historical events.