Describes a successful program at Syracuse University where university physics faculty present their research to the students on a level appropriate for a general audience. Discusses why it was done, how it was done, survey results, and general observations. (MVL)

Describes the history, construction, and use of a diffusion cloud chamber to detect and study radioactive materials. (MKR)

Discusses an experiment for elementary students based on the principle that the faster an object is moving when it is dropped, the greater the distance it will travel away from the drop point. Also discusses concepts of probability and statistics in the experiment and methods of alternative assessment. (Author/MKR)

Reports on a refresher training program that introduces experienced physics teachers to a reflective lesson-planning model and a more constructivist approach to physics teaching. Three instructional strategies developed by participants in the program and the corresponding suggestions made by their peers are presented and analyzed. (29 references)…

Stresses the importance of teaching physics concepts over having students work on word problems. (MVL)

Presents a series of simple activities involving generalized two-dimensional motion topics to prepare students to study projectile motion. Uses a pair of motion detectors, each connected to a calculator-based-laboratory (CBL) unit interfaced with a standard graphics calculator, to explore two-dimensional motion. (JRH)

Presents four examples of physics problems that can be solved with a graphing calculator. Problems included deal with motion, harmonic oscillations, sound waves, and blackbody radiation. (JRH)

Describes an activity that challenges students to apply their knowledge of motion to designing and constructing roller coasters. Emphasizes the processes students go through to communicate their ideas and the problem-solving skills they develop. (JRH)

Students in their first weeks of secondary school were asked to select from a list those topics they would be interested in studying in science. Gender differences were found in that boys predominately selected topics with a mechanical connection, whereas girls predominantly selected topics related to human biology. (Author)

Examines problems that commonly appear in the definition and discussion of work in physics textbooks. Presents the work-energy theorem, provides examples contradicting erroneous statements often found in textbook, and discusses the inconsistent terminology utilized with respect to force and work. (MDH)

Discusses the science used in the war with Iraq. Explains principles of mechanics and feedback systems, and describes how they were used in war technology. Explains the need for engineers to know physics and chemistry, to understand the capabilities and limitations of their equipment, to make accurate measurements, and to work in teams. (PR)

This article reports on a study that investigated novice students' rules for determining which of two objects exerted the greater force on the other. (PR)

Describes demonstrations to (1) construct an inexpensive static electricity detector; (2) obtain an abundant supply of either negative or positive charge using household items; and (3) create static electricity using a Tesla coil or Van de Graaff generator. (MDH)

Describes the function, management and facilities of the Physics Tutorial Center (PTC) at North Carolina State University. A primary function of the PTC is to provide immediate and individualized response to learning problems identified by the students. The operational philosophy is to guide the student to the solution by asking questions and not…