The 1990s have seen change in the populations of graduate students in physics departments across the country. The Graduate Student Survey captures demographic characteristics of approximately 10,600 physics and astronomy students who were enrolled in the 1996-97 academic year. It describes the students' sources of support, areas of specialization,…

This study reports enrollments in general science, biology, chemistry, and physics in public high schools, the additional science offerings, the number of teachers serving these pupils, class size, grade placement of science subjects, time allotments for recitation and laboratory, and troublesome problems related to the teaching of science. The…

Describes the program in a summer institute for 25 junior high school science teachers. Innovations used in the program included lecture-demonstrations, small group discussions, open-ended laboratories, and viewing physics films. Problems that arose are reviewed. The method of evaluating the teachers is described. (LC)

Describes an optical cell, suitable for high-pressure studies between at least -130 and +150 degrees Celsius, which may be assembled for about $50. Discusses experimental demonstration of principles involved when using the apparatus, including effects of pressure on coordination of ions in solution and on reaction rates in solution. (JN)

Discusses the Rugby clock as a source of project material, use of ZX81 for experimental science, computer dice analog, oil recovery from reservoirs, and computer simulation of Thompson's experiment for determining e/m for an electron. Activities/procedures are provided when applicable. Also presents questions (and answers) related to time-coded…

Discusses the current crisis in science education, focusing on declining physics enrollments and physics teacher shortages. Indicates that the present situation is the culmination of a long trend, interrupted only weakly in the sputnik era, and that the state of the economy may provide a new context for examining the issues. (JN)

Examines science course selection by curriculum candidates (N=2178) for Northern Ireland GCE 0 level in 1980. Data are provided for nature (biology, chemistry, physics) and number of courses selected, and achievement (pass/failure rates). Data are also reported for males/females and type of school. (JN)

Discusses the role of history, philosophy, and social implications of scientific ideas and advances related to the physics curriculum, considering who should teach what, to whom, and when. Suggests that physics teachers should have a deep and abiding interest in the history, philosophy, and social implications of science and technology. (Author/JN)

Student activities in an interdisciplinary, model rocket science program are described, including the construction of an Ohio Scientific computer system with graphic capabilities for use in the program and cooperative efforts with the Rocket Research Institute. (JN)

Describes physical science activities that civil/mechanical engineers (serving as resource persons) can use with students during units on force, work, center of gravity, simple machines, and other basic mechanics concepts. Activities are adapted from Career Oriented Modules to Explore Topics in Science for grades 5-9 (COMETS). (Author/JN)

Discusses the construction of lenses made out of ice, including the arrangement for mounting an ice lens on a camera. Also discusses brewing coffee in an ibrik (long-handled container tapering slightly toward the top), focusing on the physics of the brewing. (JN)

Investigated relationships between physics achievement and language of instruction where instruction was in the second language of both students and teachers. Grade 10 subjects (N=176) studied light/sound in either Chinese (N=90) or English (N=86). No differences in achievement, students' motivation, and time spent in physics were found.…

Topics include: (1) the content, style, and level of physics' textbooks; (2) suggestions for in-class use; and (3) recommendations for upgrading current texts. (SK)

An elementary formalism is developed for representing curved space-time which allows transparent qualitative explanation of general relativistic effects and is used to make a conceptual analysis of Einstein's principle of equivalence. A final section outlines a number of student activities. (Author/SK)

Presents some general characteristics of "older" students and describes courses and instructional strategies in the physical sciences related to these characteristics. (SK)