In this paper we develop materials to address student interest in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. We discuss the physical characteristics of tsunamis and some of the specific data regarding the 2004 event. Finally, we create an easy-to-make tsunami tank to run simulations in the classroom. The simulations exhibit three dramatic…

By studying many observations from recent research dealing with beginning physics students' conceptions about forces and motion, this investigation produced a framework within which this research can be organized. The framework summarizes the mechanisms of force invoked by students in particular situations, and it describes the features of…

Conceptual and quantitative difficulties surrounding Newton's second law often arise among introductory physics students. Simply turning around how one expresses Newton's second law may assist students in their understanding of a deceptively simple-looking equation.

Paper presented at the International Seminar on Experimental Research in Music Education (University of Reading, Reading, England, July 9-16, 1968).

This paper, in reviewing four different studies, discusses the influence of some basic parameters or aspects of a sign on the accuracy of perceiving that sign. This information can aid the teaching of signs to the mentally retarded, the autistic, the cerebral palsied, and the hearing adult. A series of studies was conducted in which the aim was to…

The first of a three volume report on a project to develop and apply quantitative procedures to measure motor and sensory/motor growth in nonhandicapped and severely/multiply handicapped children presents 17 papers delineating ways to measure motor function. The following motoric functions are considered: visual fixation, visual tracking, visual…

The book discusses movement and music activities for handicapped students. Activities are described for ambulatory preschoolers, nonambulatory students, mentally retarded students, deaf children, and blind and visually impaired students. Each activity lists titles of accompanying songs or music as well as a brief description of the teaching…

The motion variable in the learning process was investigated in three parallel experiments (science, motor skills, social studies), each designed to meet instructional objectives of fact learning, serial ordering, and concept learning. Stimulus sequences were shown as motion pictures, sequenced still pictures, or single still pictures to 582…

A new method for investigating the movement patterns of children has been developed. It uses a computer analysis and display procedure for reducing Cartesian coordinate position data to numerical and graphical statements about movement patterns. A time-lapse photographic system is used to obtain the position data for children during play. This…

In this study, two similar depth perception experiments were conducted to investigate 3-month-old infants' perception of changes in depth while they were being moved. In the first, the subjects, 18 infants (80 to 105 days old) were lowered face down towards the textured floor of a 3-sided enclosure (visual crib). Three experimental conditions were…

Included are the teacher's manual and the student's manual for the unit "Forces and Motion," one of a series of units for non-academic students developed by the 1970 Senior High School Science Workshop Committee. This unit is designed to give students an understanding of forces and motion. It is designed for students to learn how to: recognize…

This study was undertaken to determine the progressive development in movement and movement patterns (coordinated movements of body parts used involuntarily to achieve an objective) of children 2- to 6-years-old, to identify general characteristics which may be studied for appraisal of growth and development, and to study variations in movement…

Describes how one could teach velocity and acceleration from a Piagetian framework. This approach is compared with the traditional method of teaching constantly accelerated motion to high school and college students. Some problems and a list of references are also presented. (HM)

Describes in detail the construction of an improved version of Hero's engine that is easy to operate and has a short response time. (GA)

A colliding spheres type of experiment is used with several hundred 4-12 grade students to test for knowledge of the concept of controlling variables. Results support the contention that the concept is developed gradually during the concept stage but not fully attained until around 14 years of age. (CP)