Describes an activity in which two pulleys are connected by a wire loop; when the bottom pulley is dipped into hot water, the pulleys rotate. Also suggests that students design/build a machine to propel a bean; the machine must use materials including one bean, two plastic straws, and two rubber bands. (JN)

Two individuals who hold university and industry appointments were asked to respond to questions on various issues related to science curriculum and instruction in Great Britain. Their responses to these questions are presented. Issues examined include 0-/A-level testing and the use of erroneous science reports in the media. (JN)

Discusses the nature of "thought experiments" and why they are an integral part of physics. Also examines some of the better-known thought experiments in special relativity and quantum mechanics, focusing on content audiences they are aimed at and the prior knowledge of these audiences. (JN)

Investigated the extent to which 28 academically able students used energy conservation ideas in solving written and practical problems. Interviews show problems they had in understanding and using the concepts of work and energy and that the idea of energy conservation was rarely used spontaneously in relevant situations. (JN)

Describes experiments in which a bipolar transistor is used to examine the behavior of a simple circuit. Also addresses problems in teaching the related concepts. (The experiments can be modified to incorporate devices other than bipolar transistors.) (JN)

Presents several optical illusions which can be used to demonstrate the principles of geometrical optics. Procedures needed to accomplish the demonstrations are included. (JN)

Describes activities involving Bernoulli's principle which allows students to experience the difference between knowledge and scientific understanding. Explanations for each of the activities (using such materials as wooden spools, straws, soda bottles and table tennis balls) and explanations of phenomena in terms of Bernoulli's are provided. (BC)

Discusses the main features of the department head's role in determining the success of girls in physics. Areas examined include the presentation of material, classroom management techniques, option choices, and issues related to segregating boys and girls for several subject areas. (JN)

Shows how the natural membrane of a decalcified chicken egg can demonstrate the principle of osmosis within a single class period. Various glucose and saline solutions used, periods of time, physiological effects experiments, and correction for differences in initial weights are noted. (DH)

Describes a radiation counter comparable to commercial units which costs less than $100. It consists of six sections: Geiger-Mueller tube and holder; high voltage supply; low voltage supply; pulse shaping circuit; "start/stop counts" gating circuit; and counter/display. List of materials needed and schematic diagrams are included. (JN)

Describes 10 computer programs used to draw diagrams usually drawn on chalkboards, such as addition of three vectors, vector components, range of a projectile, lissajous figures, beats, isotherms, Snell's law, waves passing through a lens, magnetic field due to Helmholtz coils, and three curves. Several programming tips are included. (JN)

The joint winter meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Physical Society (APS) was held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 27-30, 1986. Abstracts of papers presented at the meeting and the complete program are provided. An author index is appended. (JN)

Discusses issues which bear on the future of physics education, including the broader educational context within which physics may be found and the rationale for keeping physics as a separate subject and not integrated with other sciences. (JN)

Discusses how physics is used to improve the efficiency of combustion, pointing out that the interdisciplinary topic has applications to problems of real industrial relevance and practical value. (JN)

TK!Solver is a general purpose problem-solving tool allowing users to enter sets of equations that characterize problem areas in a variety of mathematically-oriented fields (finance, engineering, physics, economics). Indicates that this latest version alleviates problems found in the initial version, in particular with speed, now faster in all…