Alerts teachers, science-test writers and other relevant persons to the problem of distorted concepts which might arise from careless and/or irresponsible usage of the language of science. Provides examples of semantic problems in writings related to the concepts of adaptation and evolution. (GS)

Examines a specific experiment in view of its ethical problems and possible scientific advances. (LS)

Reports that, according to a survey conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), knowledge of fundamental scientific facts and principles declined among young American students between 1969 and 1973. Also discusses the philosophy and goals of NAEP, and the methodology used in this survey. (MLH) Aspect of National Assessment…

Describes a four page paper written by S. Bose who helped found quantum statistics. The consequences of the paper to modern physics are presented. Contrasted are the scientific relationships of Einstein, Dirac, and Bose. (GH)

Everyone who teaches physics knows very well that sometimes a simple device or experiment can help to make a concept clear. In this paper, inspired by "The Jumping Pencil" by Martin Gardner, I will discuss a simple demonstration device that can be used to start the study of air pressure.

Classroom experiments on atmospheric pressure focus largely on demonstrating its existence, often in a most impressive way. A series of amusing physics demonstrations is widely known and practiced by educators teaching the topic. However, measuring the value of atmospheric pressure(P[subscript atm]) is generally done in a rather mundane way,…

We show a new approach, based on the utilization of Mathematica, to solve gas permeation problems using membranes. We start with the design of a membrane unit for the separation of a multicomponent mixture. The built-in Mathematica function, FindRoot, allows one to solve seven simultaneous equations instead of using the iterative approach of…

In process control education, particularly in the field of chemical engineering, there is an inherent need for industrially relevant hands-on apparatuses that enable one to bridge the gap between the theoretical content of coursework and real-world applications. At the University of South Carolina, two experimental air-pressure tank systems have…

Briefly reviews the increasing application of geologic principles, techniques and data to engineering practices in the areas of land use and zoning controls, resource management energy programs and other fields. (BR)

Meta-analysis techniques were used to analyze the effects of different types of aids to learning science concepts from textual materials. The studies analyzed dealt with aids for selecting the important information contained in written materials and aids for building internal connections among the parts of printed materials. Studies pertaining to…

Some feminists have become discouraged because the theoretical and conceptual changes leading to a feminist science have not yet occurred. A scheme has been developed which charts the phases through which the disciplines in the social sciences and humanities progressed before reconceptualization from the new scholarship on women transformed those…

There are the only two studies available on the types of solutions--unsaturated, saturated, supersaturated, dilute and concentrate--in the related literature with respect to students' understanding. But, no study focuses on remediation of students' alternative conceptions with regard to the aforementioned concepts, based on the assumption that…

Discusses the use of a diatomic molecule to examine configuration interactions and the correlation problems arising from the Hartree-Fock approximation. Included is a definition of the "correlation energy." (CC)

In addition to two misapprehensions, that the earth is uninvolved in many physical phenomena and that it is infinite and unmoving, physics students often believe that the earth, without expending energy, can push things along its surface, giving rise to accelerations. (MLH)