Discusses solubility interactions of various oils placed on the surface of water and other liquids, explained using the basic forces of gravity, electrical attraction, and quantum mechanics (non-mathematical). Hydrogen and ionic bonding between oleic acid/water is analyzed. An experiment to determine physical properties of the oleic acid molecule…

Determined effects of including supplementary readings designed to help students (N=233) relate physics to other fields. Both achievement and attitude were measured and significant improvement differences were found for both due to the treatment. Sources for the supplemental readings are cited. (JM)

This paper considers the main characteristics of contents' connections between technical education and physics curricula, in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade of the Serbian primary school. The undertaken logical and didactic analyses of interconnectedness between contents structure of the two school subjects are based upon comparisons which…

This book is designed for middle school students to learn scientific literacy through event-based science. Unlike traditional curricula, the event-based earth science module is a student-centered, interdisciplinary, inquiry-oriented program that emphasizes cooperative learning, teamwork, independent research, hands-on investigations, and…

This study is part of a larger research agenda, which includes future doctoral study, aiming to investigate the psychological processes of thought experiments. How do thought-experimenters establish relations between their imaginary worlds and the physical one? How does a technique devoid of new sensory input result to new empirical knowledge? In…

Promoting ACademic Excellence in Mathematics and Science for Workers of the 21st Century (PACE) was a consortium project made up of Indiana University Northwest, the Gary Community Schools, and the Merrillville Community Schools. The focus of this project was to prepare teachers and curricula for Tech Prep mathematics and science courses for the…

The Task Force on Graduate Education in Physics (TFGE), an ad hoc committee convened jointly by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Physical Society (APS), has studied the current status of graduate education in physics Ph.D. programs, and has made recommendations based on what was found. The findings indicate that…

This is a two-part curriculum package for teaching the structure of atoms. The first part--the Teacher's Guide--contains information necessary for using the equipment in a typical classroom including learning goals, vocabulary, math skills, and sample data for each activity. The second part of the package consists of photocopy masters for a set of…

This curriculum packet of teacher-developed lesson plans, intended for use with students in middle and/or high schools, focuses on student involvement in community projects. The first lesson plan, "Physics Park" (Scott McQuerry), aims for students to construct a playground and the examine the physics behind the playground's equipment. Students use…

This report presents the results of a fall 1999 survey of U.S. colleges and universities that offer doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees in physics and astronomy, focusing on degree production and current student enrollment. Highlighted are the following: (1) after four years of significant declines, physics bachelor's degrees conferred in…

This thesis investigates the effects of using computer-assisted instruction to supplement traditional classroom methods in high school physics. Students were divided into two groups, experimental and control, with the experimental group receiving the supplement of a drill and practice exercise by microcomputer. After a 2-week study, data was…

Examines why fewer college graduates from physics and science education departments become secondary school science teachers, what physics teachers encounter once they enter secondary schools, and why physics teachers leave secondary schools. Issues related to the latter area include low salaries, poorly equipped facilities, nonteaching duties,…

Lack of women participating in physics programs/study from introductory high school courses through doctoral programs is addressed. Attitudes developed by perceiving science as masculine and lack of female role models are cited as two causative factors. Recommendations for improvement at classroom, science department, secondary, primary, and…

Examined relationship between cognitive requirements of two chapters of a physics textbook for biology/pre-med students and their ability to use prerequisite reasoning skills required for its understanding. An average of 42 percent of students tested did not consistently use reasoning skills required to understand text concepts. Discusses tests…

Outlines methodology, demonstrations, and materials including: an inexpensive wave machine; speed of sound in carbon dioxide; diffraction grating method for measuring spectral line wavelength; linear electronic thermometer; analogy for bromine diffusion; direct reading refractice index meter; inexpensive integrated circuit spectrophotometer; and…