Reports on the analysis of science curricula carried out across Canada within the framework of the Second International Science Study by: (1) describing the background to the study and the research methodology employed; (2) showing how data were organized; and (3) discussing meanings derived from the data analysis. (JN)

At ages 11-15, 25 intellectually highly-able youths studied high school biology and 12 studied chemistry intensively for 3 summer weeks, after which their median score on the College Board's achievement test was 727 (biology) and 743 (chemistry). Implications of these and other results for science instruction are discussed. (JN)

Shows how air flows around a sail, explaining why a dinghy is able to move toward the wind rather than be blown backwards. Also illustrates the effects of alternating the angle of a sail, using different sail shapes and using a rig consisting of two sails. (JN)

Shows that the angle of projection of a bullet is not the same as the angle of the bore of the firearm just before firing. Includes an equation that is useful when considering the firing of bullets and arrows in the air. (JN)

Describes a method for assessing humanized science content and presents the results of a content analysis study conducted on 60 secondary science textbooks to determine the presence of "humanized content." (JDH)

Provides instructions for preparing, processing, and viewing single-beam reflection holograms in science classrooms. Indicates that the process is simple to demonstrate and moderate in cost. A description of the required equipment (optics table, laser, mirrors, lens, filmholder/plateholder, recording materials, and darkroom chemicals/equipment) is…

Describes how to record and study two-dimensional collisions using video-recording equipment. These techniques have been used by students in a calculus-based physics laboratory for such experiments as the analysis of conservation of momentum on the airtable. (JN)

Describes experiments using fluidyne engines. These engines (which have liquid pistons), started by external heat sources, are used primarily for pumping water. Examples of various engines built from U-shaped tubes or from coiled tubes in fruit jars are provided. (DH)

Fourth-year students in eight classes were tested over a three-year period to determine the ease or difficulty with which they learned the conservation principle. A major focus was on ideas they held about the nature of energy before beginning the course. Results and implications for physics instruction are presented. (JN)

Describes main features of students' thinking about heat and temperature (developed before formal science teaching) and results of a study that shows that many notions about heat/temperature used by younger children are still apparent in the thinking of older students. The study involved interviews with 84 students in three age groups. (JN)

Measurement of the brightness of moonlight by comparison with lamp-light from a low wattage light bulb is an elementary project in astronomy which illustrates scientific principles for the freshman level. Two methods used for the comparison (shadow brightness method and grease spot method) are explained, with suggestions and expected answers. (DH)

Basic physical concepts of importance in understanding magnetic fluids (fine ferromagnetic particles suspended in a liquid) are discussed. They include home-made magnetic fluids, stable magnetic fluids, and particle surfactants. (DH)

Discusses the search for fundamental particles and fields of which all matter consists and the search for a unified theory of the forces with which these particles and fields interact. Topic areas include relativity and quantum mechanics, high energy accelerators, particle interactions at high energy, substructure, electromagnetic interactions,…

Describes activities designed to discover what the fluid is in bubble lights used on Christmas trees. Also describes activities using soda straws (to make music and to make smoke). (JN)

Describes a menu-driven, data plotting program which runs on any Apple II plus, IIE, or IIC microcomputer. The program does a least-squares analysis of the data and gives the user the option of fitting the line through the data points. The complete Applesoft program listing is included. (JN)