Describes a pre-calculus, freshman-level modern physics course for prospective physics majors. The problems and goals which led to the course are discussed. Course objectives, content, laboratory projects, text and reference materials and evaluaton procedures used are reported. (LC)

Describes three elementary optics experiments using a laser instead of conventional light sources. Experiments illustrate the Fresnel-Arago law, elliptical polarization, double refraction and polarization in calcite, and interference by a Fresnel biprism. Because of the high intensity of the laser beam, these experiments lend themselves very well…

A controlled experiment using students ranked in lower 40 percent of their secondary school graduating class showed that the use of the crisis intervention technique was effective in reducing numbers of dropouts and in improving the academic performance of the experimental group. Case studies are presented and the results of a follow-up study are…

Based on results reported in a doctoral dissertation completed at Yale University. (VM)

Educational selection methods are not infallible. A considerable reservoir of unexploited intellectual ability remains in the working class. (Author)

In a senior modern physics laboratory, design" or ingenuity" experiments were introduced to acquaint students with methods of doing complete experiments. The former deals with proposed long term studies while the latter deals with apparatus and short term actual studies. Students rated the design" experiments higher. (Author/TS)

Changes of buoyancy related to temperature of an aluminum block system in water are investigated. Three hypotheses to explain the observed change are developed and tested, and the intellectual processes used in the various steps are noted. (CP)

Reports the reactions of students to an experiment in which all students were guaranteed an A" for one grading period, and lists positive and negative effects on the class. (AL)