Discusses free-fall acceleration in accelerated frames of reference of moving cars. Specifically, evidence presented by oil leaks on pavement is used as an example of exploring this phenomenon. (CS)

Presents a brief overview of the important processes and techniques used industrially for forming thin films. (HM)

Described are the components for a high-fidelity sound-reproducing system which focuses on various program sources, the amplifier, and loudspeakers. Discussed in detail are amplifier power and distortion, air suspension, loudspeaker baffles and enclosures, bass-reflex enclosure, drone cones, rear horn and acoustic labyrinth enclosures, horn…

Outlines a variety of laboratory procedures, discussions, and demonstrations including Brownian motion, a synchronous motor, jet engine, atmospheric pressure vortex ring machines, solid chemical dispensing, testing household detergents, wallchart storage, pollution by industrial chemicals, an optical illusion, and buoyancy. (GS)

Describes a one-quarter seminar course in modern physics through science fiction. Presents the course format, subject matter, reading assignments, writing assignments, and student response. (GS)

Describes how certain concepts basic to electron optics may be introduced to undergraduate physics students by calculating trajectories of charged particles through electrostatic fields which can be evaluated on minicomputers with a minimum of programing effort. (Author/SA)

Reviews the developments in the electrical sciences that occurred during the first half of the eighteenth century. Emphasizes the roles of the electric machine and the capacitor. (GS)

Presented are forms of harmonic oscillator attraction and Coulomb wave functions which can be explicitly constructed and which lead to numerical results for the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the atomic system. The Schrodinger equation and its solution and specific cases of muonic atoms illustrating numerical calculations are included.…

Describes problems using the Jenkins and White approach and standard diffraction theory when dealing with the topic of finite conjugate, point-source resolution and how they may be resolved using the relatively obscure Abbe's sine theorem. (JN)

Presents a reexamination of an intuitively geometric view of the nonrelativistic Pauli spinor in a simplified discussion of the connection between the rotation group and special transformations in the plane of projection. This view of the spinor is related to those based on the existence of an istropic or null vector. (SK)

Reviews several research studies helpful for further examining Piaget's ideas and their applicability to physics teaching. Indicates that care must be taken with devices designed to measure cognitive ability. (Author/SK)

Discusses the trigonometric or heliocentric parallax method of measuring distances to the stars. A description of how parallax distances are derived, the importance of this method, and the limitations of this method are also included. (DS)

Large lecture sections of science staffed by a single instructor make it impossible to provide individual student attention and lead to high dropout and failure rates. Daily assignments are used to encourage students to identify areas that need remediation, maintain a steady study pace, receive positive reinforcement, and learn methods of solving…

Discusses laboratory investigations designed to allow students to solve problems without using predetermined mathematical formulas. As a result, laboratory problems force students to think. In addition, some students formulate their own mathematical relationships and enhance their understanding of the connection between mathematics and…

In light of criticism leveled at secondary school programs, the teaching of physics is examined in the context of successes, failures, and opportunity for improvement. Discussion proceeds under three main headings: the context of physics teaching; curriculum content and materials; and the teaching-learning process. (Author/RE)