The purpose of this publication is to present a novel approach to the demonstration of the Dzhanibekov effect. The main idea of our version is to use a lightweight spinning top of a spherical external form but distinct principal moments of inertia floating in the upward flow of air. As a result, the Dzhanibekov effect can be easily demonstrated…

Physics teachers are sometimes asked to teach an astronomy course for non-majors. One can't make that class dance and sing without the starry night, but on a brightly lit campus viewing deep sky objects may seem impossible. Hence instructors often opt for planetarium shows. However: 1) Planetariums aren't the real thing. 2) People living in large…

The measurement of the charge-to-mass ratio, e/m, of the electron is a fundamental part of any study of electricity and magnetism. It is possible to use an apparatus designed to measure e/m for other things, including investigations of electron flow through a near vacuum, measuring a work function, and even exploring some quantum mechanics…

Tumescence in cadaveric dissection involves the introduction of fluid into interstitial spaces to assist in the separation of natural tissue planes and the preservation of delicate structures. With a hand surgeon's perspective, the senior author brought this technique into the cadaver lab. The infusion helped transform desiccated and adherent…

The idea of a practical examination in a subject is an old and established one in many fields, within chemistry, in widely differing areas of academics, and in many on-the-job training scenarios. In a dedicated course on chemical safety, we have found that "the unsafe lab practical" makes for a thought-provoking and yet fun final…

We outline the physics involved in the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and modernise the usual textbook treatment by explaining how one can now obtain high-quality images with non-conductive specimens. As a concrete example of an application in biology, we provide several magnification series of a flea obtained using SEM.

In this paper we explain how to build a very sensitive force table using 3D-printed parts. The key component of this apparatus is a simple sensitive pulley that, together with the other components, can be printed in one day (one hour per pulley, 17 hours for a complete three-pulleys table) at the cost of 160 g of plastic filament. This force table…

High voltage supplies are often used in physics classes for demonstrations and laboratory work. These devices deliver several thousand volts DC, while limiting the current to a safe level, typically under 5 mA. One issue with these power supplies is their expense, which means schools may not have one. Less expensive homemade units have been…

Background: In recent years, immersive virtual reality in education has garnered attention, however, there have been mixed findings on the efficacy of IVR in education. Thus, exploring which strategies are effective in transferring learning from IVR to real-world applications is imperative. Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of…

This study explores the effectiveness of video demonstrations compared to live classroom visits for promoting writing center services to students in first-year writing courses. Using a randomized cluster experimental design, the researchers implemented either an in-person demonstration, a video demonstration, or no intervention (control). Pre- and…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students are typically taught content delivered didactically and closely aligned with the laboratory demonstration of concepts, which facilitates the development of experimental skills. Because of the volume of content delivered across multiple courses, student cognitive abilities can be…

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is expected to create a greater sense of presence that might improve students' laboratory learning experiences. However, little research has verified the influence of presence on students' perceptions toward immersive laboratory learning. The current study, which is based on the expectation confirmation model,…

Heartwheels! STEM Mobile Outreach is a scientist-led collaborative, innovative, and reproducible experiential educational program and mobile lab developed to engage people young and old in the cardiovascular sciences, improve health literacy and awareness of heart-healthy living, and spark curiosity in the science, technology, engineering, and…

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been widely used in nursing laboratory courses to effectively making up for the shortcomings of traditional teaching. However, challenges such as cell phone addiction, negative emotions, and reduced communication between teachers and students still exist during the application process, which makes it difficult…

The concepts of phospholipase activity is often taught in undergraduate biology and biochemistry classes and reinforced in laboratory exercises. However, very rarely does the design of these exercises allow students to directly gain experience in the use of modern instruments such as digital imaging systems and fluorescence spectrophotometers. The…