Discusses data from tests and videotaped interviews indicating conceptual primitives as a source of student difficulty in physics. These include key concepts (mass, acceleration) and fundamental principles/models (Newton's and conservation laws, atomic model). Demonstrates that misconceptions can be studied using problems of minimum complexity to…

Presents comments on the balanced instruction of scientific and theological theories (evolution vs creationism), including problems with balanced instruction, position of the National Association of Biology Teachers, and the distinction between science and religion. (DS)

An analogy between electron transfer reactions of the elements and those of organic molecules is offered. Examples of organic electron transfer reactions are presented. The rationale of constructing an organic chemists' periodic table is also discussed. (HM)

Describes a course in which pollutant health impacts are discussed in the context of unifying concepts such as threshold v nonthreshold responses. (CS)

Reports results of a large-scale study that investigated the knowledge of gravity and related principles of mechanics possessed by first-year physics students (N=468) at Monash University, Australia. One conclusion is that students know a lot of physics but do not relate it to the everyday world. (CS)

Presents the viewpoints of a prominent behavioral scientist concerning the role of the environment in the evolution of behavior. (CS)

Three density questions were administered to 290 ninth-grade students to assess their understanding of this concept. Found two-thirds of students understand displacement and/or density concepts. Three solubility questions were administered to 385 ninth-graders to assess understandings of solubility. Found students have difficulty with some aspects…

Discusses parametric oscillators and parametric instability. A simple, easy-to-construct system which exhibits parametric instability is presented. The two lowest-order resonances are described and analyzed in detail. The analysis stresses the physical and intuitive aspects of the problem. (Author/HM)

Presents a practical problem to students in a junior-level thermodynamics course in which a human body regulates its own internal temperature. This problem can be utilized as well (with modification) in an introductory physics course for life science majors. (HM)

Discusses some examples of Fresnel diffraction. Diffraction effects caused by round holes, round obstacles, narrow slits, narrow obstacles, and transparent obstacles are included. (HM)

Describes an undergraduate physics experiment for studying Curie temperature and Curie constant of a ferromagnetic material. The exchange field (Weiss field) has been estimated by using these parameters. (HM)

Discusses some basic physical ideas about light scattering and describes a simple Raman spectrometer, a single prism monochromator and a multiplier detector. This discussion is intended for British undergraduate physics students. (HM)

Shows how new books and television programs are helping scientific humanism infiltrate the educational system. (RL)

Discusses the ELEMENTARY SCIENCE program for grades K-6, describing concepts that the program emphasizes and materials used for each grade level. (CS)

Discusses kinematics of the planetary alignment in nature and related results. Describes a model of planetary alignments to beginning astronomy students. The model is to explain Jupiter's deviation from a circular orbit. (SK)