Addresses concepts about electrochemical systems that cause confusion among those new to the subject. The goal is to synthesize an understanding of the heterogeneity of an electrochemical system and a chemical sense for the important electrochemical variables of potential, current, and charge. (JN)

Provides an exercise to help students understand how small atoms are. Also provides a problem to help beginning college students understand the concepts of unit conversions. (JN)

Eighth-grade pupils in Nigeria were studied to find out: (1) the extent to which students exposed to the Nigerian Integrated Science Project mastered some fundamental concepts; (2) whether there were significant differences in achievement at various cognitive levels; and (3) which of the concepts was most easily mastered. (Author/BW)

Summarizes the views of Ernst Mayr on the controversy over evolution which exists between physical scientists and biologists. Discusses the uniqueness of individuals, work by population geneticists and mathematical geneticists, complexity in nature, rates of change, modes of change, and the need to ask "why". (DC)

Lists resources on black holes, including: (1) articles of historical interest; (2) books and journal articles on elementary expositions; (3) elementary and advanced textbooks; and (4) research articles on analytic structure of black holes, black hole dynamics, and astrophysical processes. (SK)

To develop scientific thinking in students, the history of science should be integrated in school curricula. This would present conflicting theories, within and outside of science, that would help to develop the students' abilities to compare and criticize. (CJ)

This study concerns the role of structural properties of scientific prose: description of relations and explanation of mechanisms. The latter is isolated as a characteristics related to creative problem solving. (Author/GK)

Sixty fifth-grade students were randomly assigned to a group to be trained in solving Inhelder and Piaget's pendulum problem by Siegler's method or to a control group. A significant training effect was found. A weak transfer effect was found, but delayed performance showed no training effect. (Author/BW)

Presents the outline of an approach related to the teaching of the chapter on bound and scattering states in a short-range potential, which forms a standard part of an undergraduate quantum mechanics course or nuclear physics course. (HM)

Described is a technique for determining whether a student can conserve matter. This technique utilizes a square-triangle problem. Included are typical answers and Piagetian-type explanations for such answers. (DS)

Reflects on a number of topics relating to science fiction, including the power of good science fiction to spark imaginations and provoke serious thought, the role of women in science fiction, childhood experiences that stimulated the author's thought processes, and the author's experiences as a science fiction writer. (ET)

The author presents parachute play activities that teach not only physical skills and teamwork, but mathematics and science concepts as well. He also gives advice on selecting a parachute. (SJL)

Discusses how the Runge-Lenz vector provides a way to derive the relation between deflection angle and impact parameter for Coulomb- and Kepler-fields in a very simple and a straightforward way. (Author/HM)

Reports an investigation of the effect of gender on ability to recognize simple definitions of concept words in science, as indicated by differences in test scores and in students' free writing "definitions" of physical science concept words. Significant gender differences favoring boys were found for students (n=1,635) of six Tasmanian…

Describes a self-consistent-field-linear combination of atomic orbitals-molecular orbital calculation on the valence electrons of lithium hydride using the method of Roothaan. This description is intended for undergraduate physics students.