The small angle approximation sin[theta approximately theta] is central to all treatments of the simple pendulum as a harmonic oscillator and is typically asserted as a result that follows from calculus. Here, however, we show that the geometry of the pendulum "itself" offers a route to understanding the origin of the small angle…

The concepts of electronegativity and classical electronegativity scales are briefly described. Electronegativity scales have practical quantitative applications, and this work suggests activities which can assist students select the scales for use in chemistry applications. It provided examples of the use of an appropriate electronegativity…

Scientific thinking and critical thinking are two intellectual processes that are considered keys in the basic and comprehensive education of citizens. For this reason, their development is also contemplated as among the main objectives of science education. However, in the literature about the two types of thinking in the context of science…

The poem Ode on the Odyssey of lipoproteins describes the structure, functions and metabolism of lipoproteins namely Chylomicrons, LDL, VLDL and HDL. This poem is a triolet with eight lines in each stanza. Odyssey is the travel experience of an adventurous journey when someone travels far and wide. This poem describes the transport adventures of…

Bounded by the statements of Feynman and Galileo, I describe certain tricks that can be useful for the teaching of physics. In particular, I describe the calculation of the center of mass (centroid) of an arc of circumference and a circular sector. For this purpose, I also use Pappus's theorems. An Appendix is available with Archimedes' method to…

Owing to factors such as poor water solubility of luminol and the instability and easy decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2]), the accuracy and sensitivity of the detection of H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2] through the luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) system are limited. Herein, we propose a water-soluble…

In the present work, we demonstrate the phenomenon of temperature difference power generation, which is achieved by the reversible conversion between thermal and electrical energy.

In the movie Gravity, American astronaut and scientist Dr. Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on a spacewalk when tragedy suddenly strikes. An ever-increasing field of debris caused by a destroyed spy satellite damages the Hubble and Space Shuttle and quickly wipes out their mission. Dr. Stone spends the rest of the movie trying to find a ride back home.

A Slinky is a loose helical coil spring and is a well-known educational toy. In this paper a model for a Slinky is presented. The Slinky is represented as a sequence of rigid half coils connected by torsional springs. A range of Slinky configurations in static equilibrium are calculated. Where possible the torsion spring model is compared with the…

Biology is perhaps the most complex of the sciences, given the incredible variety of chemical species that are interconnected in spatial and temporal pathways that are daunting to understand. Their interconnections lead to emergent properties such as memory, consciousness, and recognition of self and non-self. To understand how these…

Vertical jump height is a widely used variable in sport science and physical education. This narrative review summarizes various numerical methods used to calculate vertical jump height. In force plate technology, the jump height is most commonly calculated using the flight time (FT) or the takeoff velocity (TOV), which provide only the distance…

In physics education, the topic of electromagnetic induction is an important but also challenging topic for many students. The early introduction of formulae, e.g., Faraday's law of induction, seems to hinder rather than to foster the understanding of the topic's underlying principles. In this paper, we present the basic idea for a teaching…

It has long been suspected by general relativists that physicists who do not specialize in general relativity (GR) believe that special relativity (SR) is incapable of modeling dynamics within accelerated reference frames. Consequently, many physicists may conclude that certain phenomena, such as time dilation due to acceleration, can only be…

Although formulating a broadly accepted definition of scientific literacy may be challenging, it is widely recognized that Nature of Science (NOS) is an essential component of it. There are different ways to define NOS. In some cases, NOS can be conceptualized through a number of general NOS aspects like for instance science's empirical basis or…

A major challenge when designing new experiments for the general chemistry laboratory is introducing students to the necessary techniques while keeping the experiment engaging and accessible. This work presents a new multiweek activity designed to introduce students to advanced instrumentation in the form of high-performance liquid chromatography…