Describes the extended general physics course taught at Rutgers University. The course presents to students at the high school algebra level the topic of analyzing a particular thought experiment that yields the time dilation formula and subsequently space contraction, velocity addition, and other 20th-century physics concepts. (MVL)

Presents two separate models for implementing a hands-on calculus-based introductory physics course. Included in the discussion are context; purpose; topics; implementation of model one and two; and conclusion. (ZWH)

This article describes the recruitment and selection methods, reports how the students handled the course requirements, summarizes the feedback from the teachers, and discusses the successes and failures in achieving the goals of the astronomy master's program for middle school and high school teachers at the University of Arizona in Tucson. (MVL)

Described is a three-week unit on stellar evolution and cosmology taught as part of a one-year introductory high school physics course for seniors. Prerequisite topics necessary for a student's understanding of the material and topics covered during the unit are presented. (BT)

Stresses that an important industrial area is product reliability, especially for semiconductors. Suggests that physics students would benefit from training in semiconductors: the many modes of failure, radiation effects, and electrical contact problems. (MVL)

Describes the Student Science Training Program (SSTP) held in Hawaii for 30 high school students gifted in science and math. The seven-week program presents coursework, laboratory experiments, recitation/discussion, computer programming, field trips, research participation, and socialization. (MVL)

Describes the Capacitor-Aided System for Teaching and Learning Electricity (CASTLE) project which is a high school electricity curriculum developed by high school and college physics teachers. The project is motivated by research on students' conceptual difficulties in electricity. The instructional materials developed allow students to challenge…

Critiques the Capacitor-Aided System for Teaching and Learning Electricity (CASTLE) curriculum. Criticism is made of the model's use of a compressible-fluid model to demonstrate charge conduction. An alternative model is proposed. (ZWH)

Describes problems that are presented in the form of experiments. The philosophy, method of solution, and several examples of mechanics experiment problems are described. (LZ)

Describes the reordering of a ninth-grade physics course that aimed at making core concepts clear to the students while at the same time developing students' skills and depth of understanding. Discusses its benefits and associated problems. (JRH)

Describes a successful program at Syracuse University where university physics faculty present their research to the students on a level appropriate for a general audience. Discusses why it was done, how it was done, survey results, and general observations. (MVL)

Uses computers to aid in teaching one property of the chaos theory: sensitivity to initial conditions. Provides demonstrations that illustrate that science and physics do not and cannot have all the answers to questions asked regarding the causes of natural phenomena. (ZWH)

Defines a few major reasons for the frequent failure of laboratory instructional methods and outlines some modes of thinking that seem to promise greater effectiveness and firmer justification for maintaining the laboratory as an essential component of physics teaching. (MVL)

The purpose of this article is to indicate another way of looking at duality and to propose an alternative approach to the teaching of quantum theory at the introductory level. (MVL)