Describes a simple, direct method to demonstrate the effects of the boundary conditions on sound impulse reflections in pipes. A graphical display of the results can be made using a pipe, cork, small hammer, microphone, and fast recording electronics. Explains the principles involved. (LZ)

Presents an activity that explores how gravity affects human height. Uses threaded spools suspended in a soda bottle filled with water to simulate the effects of gravity on the human skeletal system. Suggests extension activities and related explorations. (LZ)

Explains how music is digitized and digitally recorded onto tape. Also discusses the compression of digital audio signals, digital compact cassette systems, and minidiscs. (MVL)

Uses a clamp-on ammeter to measure current loads of many small and major appliances. Notes its ease of use. Includes a table of amperage and wattage usage for many home appliances. (MVL)

Recommends using probability paper, also called normal probability and arithmetic probability paper, for solving probability problems. Provides six examples. (MVL)

Describes the forces occurring inside an automobile wheel. (MVL)

Describes a demonstration where two 0.5-kg masses and two 1.0-kg masses are hung on springs on a suspended meterstick. The masses can be made to resonate by putting one partner mass in motion. Relates the motion to the history of the telegraph. (MVL)

Compared students in a model preservice program to other students taking similar courses on their conceptual understandings of science and mathematics, their investigative proficiencies, and their beliefs about effective methods of teaching. Reports that students in the model program developed more thorough understandings and more reform-minded…

Equipped with a little more than batteries, food-dye, and sieving media, teachers can demonstrate an essential process used in biochemical research. An activity is provided to aid in helping students to understand electrophoresis. (ZWH)

School leaders can take comfort from the new sciences and use them to cope with the many paradoxes and swirling changes that nullify their usual leadership tools. School leaders inhabit a chaotic, nonlinear world, but everyone wants more structure for security. The challenge is to find predictability even in the most unpredictable of times. Trying…

Argues that scaling laws (square-cube law) used to predict the physical consequences of increasing and decreasing an object's size should be made a part of the high school science curriculum. (ZWH)

Discusses how the Galilean balance equilibrium model can be used in the physics classroom to provide students with a model of intelligibility that would unify their thinking about motion and, at the same time, provide them with a general procedural schema for solving motion problems. (ZWH)

Describes a project designed to allow middle school students to learn some science concepts through application of science and mathematics lessons. (ZWH)

Testing using the Golden State Examination, a performance test that employs a variety of testing modes, revealed that students share several misconceptions in biology and chemistry. Some of these misconceptions are shared in this article. (ZWH)