Discusses the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) physics examination. Areas addressed include CSE personnel, setting and moderating papers, marking and standardization, grading, curriculum development, and the examination profession. (JN)

Describes how microcomputers can perform very demanding/large-scale physics calculations at speeds not much slower than those of modern, full-size computers. Among the examples provided are a Monte Carlo simulation of the three-dimensional Ising model and a program (for the Apple microcomputer) using the time-independent Schrodinger Equation. (JN)

Discusses need for introducing material to educate students about the relationship of philosophy to physics and science in general, particularly in light of quantum mechanics. Suggesting the dual nature of electrons as a starting point and citing several supplemental texts, a demonstration is described to be used to introduce the topic. (JM)

Many people erroneously believe that an object carried by another moving object will, if dropped, fall in a straight vertical line. This belief may stem from a perceptual illusion in which objects dropped from a moving carrier are perceived as falling straight down or even backward. (Author/RD)

Describes a variety of laboratory experiments including carbon dioxide reduction, animal respiration, atmospheric pressure determination, and others, that can be performed using discarded syringes. (GS)

Compares curriculum project adoption figures derived from examination entries with figures derived from questionnaires in an attempt to place the questionnaire returns in perspective and give an indication of the confidence which may be placed in them. (GS)

Discusses ten methods for measuring the thermal expansion of solids and the way in which the expansion coefficient relates to other properties of matter. (MLH)

Discusses the teaching potentialities of scaler-timers in the physics laboratory, and describes the circuitry and design of scaler-timers. (MLH)

Discusses three theories used to explain the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter: the multiphoton theory, the cascade theory, and the effective photon theory. (MLH)

Describes the construction of simple microwave sources of centimeter wavelength with bulk-effect diodes, and accessory equipment for experiments and demonstrations in physical optics. (MLH)

Discusses the difficulty of explaining the concept of entropy, and provides exercises, experiments, and discussions concerning entropy. (MLH)

Described are five physics experiments utilizing inexpensive, readily available materials or materials normally found in a physics laboratory. Included are investigations of electrical charge, sound detection, thermal expansion, doppler effects, and the cycloid. (SL)

Presented is the second of a two part series on the use of exponential functions. Discussed, with examples, is the exponential growth of compound interest problems. (SL)

Secondary and college level students were queried as to which fundamental physics concepts were the most difficult to understand. Concepts reported as most difficult included: difference between mass and weight, magnification, indirection, the idea of fields, and potential difference. (SL)

Described is the use of computer graphics terminals to present diagrams relating to physics concepts. (SL)