A brief, intensive, competency-based workshop successfully helped 11 secondary school teachers (6 females, 5 males) from West Virginia prepare for and conduct classroom research experiments. These experiments were an effective staff development activity for career education. Career-related instruction appeared to foster positive student attitudes…

Describes an experiment on a coupled system in which accurate timing is carried out using a Light Activated Switch (LAS) technique. LAS can be used for a wide range of periodic phenomena, provided the amplitude is sufficiently large to interrupt a light beam. (Author/SK)

The carabid beetle (Notiophilus) preys readily on an easily-cultured collembolan in simple experimental conditions. Some features of this predator-prey system are outlined to emphasize its use in biology instruction. Experiments with another potential collembolan are described in the context of developing the method for more advanced studies.…

Discusses how physics was done at the University of California at Berkeley in the 1930s, focusing on the faculty and their accomplishments, physics experiments, physics instruments/equipment (cyclotron and rhumbatron), and research problems and their solutions. Includes reminiscences about lectures on thermodynamics presented by Otto Stern during…

Discusses several science experiments/activities and their associated measurements. These include a simple projectile activity, cartesian diver (used to measure altitude and atmospheric pressure), experiment demonstrating atmospheric pressure, and activities using a stroboscope, and electrometer. (JN)

Microprocessor-based student experiments are described, including flowcharts of a typical program for time interval measurement and experimental and measurement subroutines. (JN)

Describes ray tracing techniques and the method of virtual mirrors to locate images when using multiple mirrors. (JN)

Describes a laboratory exercise which applies Koch's Postulates to a plant disease, bacterial speck. Includes an explanation of Koch's Postulate, list of equipment needed, advance preparation, outline of the three-week activity, and variations of the laboratory exercise. (DS)

Describes (1) a rippler assembly which makes use of a loud speaker and a stroboscopic light source designed for this application; and (2) an experiment using a force table that has been modified for a capstan experiment. (JN)

Described are some experiments on geotropism that may be done using dandelions. (PB)

Provides physics teachers with comments on the value and role of demonstrations during lecture sessions. (SK)

Electronic energy levels in noble gas atoms may be determined with a simple teaching apparatus incorporating a resonance potentials tube in which the electron beam intensity is held constant. The resulting spectra are little inferior to those obtained by more elaborate electron-impact methods and complement optical emission spectra. (Author/SK)

Discusses the oscillatory motion of a mass on a spiral (nonhelical) spring, and calculates the lowest eigenfrequency and the associated effective spring mass for a range of values of the attached mass. Analytic and numerical comparisons are made to the helical spring problem. (HM)

Describes an undergraduate experiment which uses derivative spectroscopy to investigate the validity of the Planck function appearing in the blackbody radiation law. These measurements allow a critical examination of this function and also serve as an introduction to derivative spectroscopy techniques. (Author/HM)

Briefly refers to the history, physiological background, and adaptive implications of two theories concerning the limits of sensory discrimination. An experiment is described, suitable for college and high school students, which investigates the validity of the two theories. (CS)