Discusses how a spreadsheet might be used in an introductory physics laboratory. Describes three categories of spreadsheet uses, advantages of spreadsheet, layout, accuracy, and modifications. Gives an example of the variable mass rocket problem with typical display. (YP)

Introduces a computer solution of the oscillation of a mass suspended by a spring in a viscous liquid. Describes the equations of motion, spreadsheet solution, copying the formulas, plotting the results, and extending the applications. Presents spreadsheet and physics formulas for the step-by-step solution and spreadsheet solution. (YP)

Presents activities for a springtime Space Day that can teach students about astronauts, gravity, and motion. Activities include creating a paper bag spacecraft to study liftoff and having students simulate gravity's effects by walking in various manners and recording pulse rates. A list of resources is included. (SM)

A self-paced program designed to integrate the use of computers and physics courseware into the regular classroom environment is offered for physics high school teachers in this module on projectile and circular motion. A diversity of instructional strategies including lectures, demonstrations, videotapes, computer simulations, laboratories, and…

Describes experiences with turtle graphics to demonstrate motion in a constant gravitational field. Provides the computer program and typical diagrams. (YP)

Introduces two hands-on experiences, related to rotational motion and moment of inertia. Discusses the experimental procedures and provides figure of apparatus. (YP)

Describes the implementation of a trajectory-plotting program for a microcomputer; shows how it may be used to demonstrate the focusing effect of a simple electrostatic lens. The computer program is listed and diagrams are included that show comparisons of trajectories of negative charges in the vicinity of positive charges. (TW)

This high school physics resource is a simulator for optics, electronics, force, motion, and sound. Students can study oscillations, look at sound waves, and use probes to graph a wide variety of quantities. Over 100 activities are pre-written, and students can easily create their own additional activities using the multimedia editor. (WRM)

Describes a teaching strategy designed to help high school students learn mechanics by involving them in simple experimental work, observing didactic films, running computer simulations, and executing more complex laboratory experiments. Provides an example of the strategy as it is applied to the topic of projectile motion. (TW)

Describes a computer simulation of the Compton effect designed to lead students to discover (1) the relationship of the electron's final kinetic energy to its angle of scattering and (2) the relationship between the scattering angles of the outgoing electron and photon. (MDH)

Describes a first-year laboratory course designed to fulfill laboratory objectives of reinforcing lecture material, teaching experimental methodology, developing hands-on skills, and imparting a sense of error. The course's six segments examine: digital electronics with students building a photogate timer; error analysis; linear accelerated…

Examines the influence of two factors of the process of graphing on rural students' (n=93) ability to comprehend kinematics graphs on constant velocity events. Students exhibited difficulty in constructing and comprehending graphs of derived variables and were unaware of their own graphing skills deficiencies. (34 references) (MDH)