Integrating computer simulations and the physics laboratory: A unit dealing with wave propagation

The work we present is part of a national project aimed at introducing the study of computer science in Italian schools and at favouring its use in the study of different curricular disciplines. Our research, dealing with the teaching of Physics, has resulted in a unit based on a close link between experiments and computer simulations. The topic we have chosen is wave propagation. We propose a simple model to illustrate how wave propagation originates and a computer based strategy to introduce the subject in high school.