Provided are activities and demonstrations which can be used to teach infants about the nature of air, uses of air, and objects that fly in the air. The latter include airships, hot-air balloons, kites, parachutes, airplanes, and Hovercraft. (JN)

The application of very sensitive electronic detecting devices during the last decade has revolutionized and revitalized the study of polarization in celestial objects. The nature of polarization, how polaroids work, interstellar polarization, dichroic filters, polarization by scattering, and modern polarimetry are among the topics discussed. (JN)

Discusses five recent advances in sedimentary tectonics, noting how they are incorporated into college curricula. Advances discussed include basin type, tectonic setting, facies analysis (in conjunction with basin type/setting), stratigraphic analysis of reflection seismic data, and quantitative analysis of subsidence histories of sedimentary…

If two rockets are identical except that one engine burns in one-tenth the time of the other (total impulse and initial fuel mass of the two engines being the same), which rocket will rise higher? Why? The answer to this question (part 1 response in v20 n6, p410, Sep 1982) is provided. (Author/JN)

This examination used tenth- and twelfth-grade pupils from three high schools in Oklahoma. Data from the study suggested that the concepts which schools think they are teaching are not being learned. It is suggested the hypothesis be tested on a much wider sample of science content. (MP)

A technique is presented which utilizes wax moth larvae in a laboratory investigation of an insect virus. Describes how an insect virus can be used to introduce undergraduate biology students to laboratory work on viruses and several virological concepts. (SA)

The primary concern was the extent to which life science concepts occurred in selected secondary-school life science textbooks. Ecology concepts were the most widely and evenly distributed in junior high textbooks, and physiology terms were the most frequently occurring for senior high books. (MP)

Describes some scientific concepts illustrated by and sources of Sterling engines. Includes an elementary version of their theory. (JN)

Suggestions are offered to illustrate concepts and processes by using simple materials such as paper, paper clip, rubber band (bonding, entropy, endothermic processes). Also suggests using basic terminology: elementary ratios, percent, reaction chemistry for entropy function; equilibrium constants for Gibbs energies; and chemical mechanics for…

Reviews the formation of space, time, and measurement concepts in children with respect to Piagetian developmental levels and presents some teaching methods to help promote these concepts. (SK)

Presented are three ways in which bioactivity of organic compounds has been introduced in organic chemistry courses. One is to point out a typical bioactivity of a given functional group. A second is to discuss biorganic mechanisms. A third is to draw structure-activity correlations (SAR). (Author/HM)

Presented is a discussion of the confusion among students, scientists, and the general public over the meaning of the term "weight." (BB)

Presents arguments against the recent "punctuated equilibrium" point of view expressed by evolutionists Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge. Reviews evidence for continuous and gradual change, as recently cited by four anthropologists in the July 9 issue of "Nature." (CS)

Presents an experiment on the bending of light in a medium with a continuously varying index of refraction. Several theoretical approaches for the analysis of this experiment, designed for college physics students, are also presented. (HM)

Describes an air track experiment which involves a massive particle incident on a fixed wall with a light particle trapped in between. An analysis for this experiment, which is intended for junior and senior college students, is also included. (HM)