Physics Section of Taiwan's Subject Exam Features Scientific Article on 'Morpho Butterfly' Testing Light Interference

(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chih-chung, Taipei, July 13) The culminating questions in the physics section of the Subject Exam for the 115th academic year featured a popular science article on the 'Morpho butterfly,' testing students' comprehension of 'light interference.' The topic left a strong impression on various solution analysis teams, with the selection of material noted for its ingenuity.

The National Teachers' Association (NTA) solution team pointed out that this year's physics exam integrated real-life contexts and current topics, with diverse source materials emphasizing the application of physics knowledge to solve problems in various situations.

Specifically, questions 24 to 26—the final set—used a short article on the 'Morpho butterfly.' The article explained that a certain butterfly's wings appear a brilliant blue, and remarkably, the wing color changes when viewed from different angles. Scientists, using microscopes, discovered that the wings contain no blue pigment; instead, the blue appearance results from structural characteristics.

The NTA solution team noted that this question tested students' understanding of the principle of light interference, requiring the concept of optical path difference to solve. By first guiding students through a popular science article and then linking it to curriculum-based concepts, the question design and topic selection were innovative, emphasizing the application of physics knowledge to solve problems in diverse contexts.

The National Union of High School Educators (NUHSE) solution team stated that this year's exam questions were of moderate difficulty, eliminating the complex calculations previously criticized, and instead focusing on situational contexts to truly integrate physics into everyday life. The most impressive aspect was the final 'Morpho butterfly' question, which perfectly combined natural optical interference phenomena with inquiry-based learning.

NUHSE believes the overall exam demonstrated strong differentiation and strongly reflected the spirit of 'competency-oriented education' in the new curriculum guidelines. However, they noted that the distribution of topics was somewhat uneven, with elective physics from the second semester of Grade 12 accounting for approximately 40% of the exam, heavily focused on traditional circuit theory, potentially benefiting students who emphasized later-stage senior year coursework. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150713

Stand with truth and facts. Your support is a vital force in safeguarding press freedom.

Download the CNA 'Breaking News' app to instantly access the latest updates.

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.