Presents an examination of the buoyancy principle which can serve as a simple but rigorous illustration of a falsification test that not only clears up a possible misconception but also points the way to a number of practical uses of buoyancy measurements that have not generally been recognized. (MVL)

Describes the layout, working principle, and uses of an ultrasonic interferometer for demonstrating the impact of the motion of the medium upon wave propagation. Suggests some technical improvements of the interferometer. (YP)

Develops a realistic group problem-solving exercise to analyze information, make deductions from presented facts, draw conclusions, and communicate these processes to others. Describes the national education system of New Guinea, the exercise, and some comments. Provides a technical and economic report and a worksheet for the exercise. (YP)

The grading of high school physics students as a function of conceptual versus nonconceptual performance is investigated. The nonconceptual means a routine substitution in equations or direct recall. Students scoring highest on one type of question are far from distinguished on another type of question. (YP)

Reviewed are two computer software programs for Apple II computers on weather for upper elementary and middle school grades. "Weather" introduces the major factors (temperature, humidity, wind, and air pressure) affecting weather. "How Weather Works" uses simulation and auto-tutorial formats on sun, wind, fronts, clouds, and…

Israeli children's (kindergarten to grade nine) explanations about the water cycle are described. Reports the children's views about the source of clouds and the mechanism of rainfall. It was concluded that understanding evaporation is a necessary condition for explaining a mechanism of rain containing the ideas of condensation and heaviness. (YP)

Described is a study of 147 students that indicated a high proportion of students did not understand the concept of limiting factors. Textbook presentations that create problems are discussed. Strategies which may be more effective in teaching the concept are suggested. (CW)

Describes making a cardboard frog. Discusses the physics of various motions of the frog. Provides diagrams showing how to make the frog, the motions, and the mechanics formulas. (YP)

Outlines a procedure used to develop a written diagnostic instrument to identify misconceptions and misunderstandings of the chemistry topic. Reports the characteristic data for the instrument, and student understanding of covalent bonding and structure. (Author/YP)

Discusses the mechanism and the change of pH during the reaction. Notes that a dramatic rise in pH occurs when the reaction nears completion. Evaluates theories by other authors. (MVL)

Gives upper level chemistry students a better understanding of the application of lasers in the field of spectroscopy. Provides three experiments to demonstrate the thermal lens effect: determination of beam profile, cell position optimization, and pKa determination. (MVL)

Explains a lesson in which the scientific method is used as a teaching strategy. Discusses when this approach can be used, the interdisciplinary method, and sample science concepts that can be appropriately taught this way. (RT)

Compares mnemonic imagery and traditional study strategies on enhancing students' recall of scientific expository text material. Finds that keywords and their mnemonic images can be helpful for above average students in facilitating recall of content information given sufficient instruction and practice time. (RS)

How students restructured their scientific ideas in response to contradictions was studied with 166 male and female students (aged 12 to 14 years) who tested their predictions about water displacement by experiment. Conceptual change varied; all subjects tended to hold onto old ideas, even when presented with conflicting information. (SLD)

Summarizes "The Science Report Card" representing the fifth assessment by National Assessment of Education Progress done in 1986. Discusses the trends and reasons of the report data. (YP)