This descriptive study investigated whether elementary and middle school teachers in the Central Appalachian region were prepared to teach selected standards-based light, force and motion concepts they could reasonably be expected to teach. The study also sought to compare their preparedness for teaching these concepts. (Contains 7 figures and 7…

Commercial computer games contain "physics engine" components, responsible for providing realistic interactions among game objects. The question naturally arises of whether these engines can be used to develop educational materials for high school and university physics education. To answer this question, the author's group recently conducted a…

Does speed provide a "model for" rate of change in other contexts? Does JavaMathWorlds (JMW), animated simulation software, assist in the development of the "model for" rate of change? This project investigates the transference of understandings of rate gained in a motion context to a non-motion context. Students were 27 14-15 year old students at…

Intermolecular forces play an important role in many aspects of chemistry ranging from inorganic to biological chemistry. These forces dictate molecular conformation, species aggregation (including self-assembly), trends in solubility and boiling points, adsorption characteristics, viscosity, phase changes, surface tension, capillary action, vapor…

Jaw movement patterns were examined longitudinally in a 3-year-old male with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and compared with a typically developing control group. The child with CAS was followed for 8 months, until he began accurately and consistently producing the bilabial phonemes /p/, /b/, and /m/. A movement tracking system was used to…

The leap of a grasshopper is used as an introduction to the capabilities of muscle, using Newton's laws of motion and other standard equations as the basis of the study. (Author/PEB)

The study tested the prediction that enforced sensory motor sets results in longer reaction and movement times than does enforced sensory set (concentrating on the stimulus). (Author/JA)

There are a number of ways of exciting standing waves in ropes and springs using non-commercial vibrators such as loudspeakers, jigsaws, motors, or a simple tuning fork, including the rhythmical shaking of a handheld Slinky. We have come up with a very simple and cheap way of exciting stationary waves in a string, which anyone, particularly…

This study examined the mode of locomotion preschoolers used to traverse fence-like barriers of various heights in order to reach a goal. Preschoolers could step over the barrier, crawl under it, or walk under it. The experimental situation consisted of a room with four fences set up at different heights. Two age groups of preschool children…

An algebraic definition of time differentiation is presented and used to relate independent measurements of position and velocity. With this, students can grasp certain essential physical, geometric, and algebraic properties of motion and differentiation before undertaking the study of limits. (Author)

This article discusses how the Eastern tradition of inwardness and unification is an important lesson for Western education in the arts. (JS)

Article developed from remarks made to the University of Illinois Institute for Advanced Study in Aesthetic Education held in the summer of 1967.