Describes experiments designed to investigate the cooling rate of microwave-boiled water as compared to that of stove-boiled water. Concludes that within experimental limits, microwave-boiled water and stove-boiled water cool at the same rate. (JRH)

Explores strategies in the situation of a runner trying to evade a tackler on a football field. Enables the student to test intuitive strategies in a familiar situation using simple graphical and numerical methods or direct experimentation. (JRH)

Shows that the conventional wisdom about the extreme inaccuracy of stopwatch measurements during the acceleration and free fall of objects is mistaken. (ZWH)

Presents a laboratory exercise in which students test the pH of different substances, study the effect of a buffer on acidic solutions by comparing the behavior of buffered and unbuffered solutions upon the addition of acid, and compare common over-the-counter antacid remedies. (MKR)

Using the movie Star Wars as inspiration, an activity is presented to introduce students to water's cohesiveness and how the surface tension of water can be disrupted. (MKR)

Describes a simple, inexpensive system that allows students to have hands-on contact with simple experiments involving forces generated by induced currents. Discusses the use of a dynamic force sensor in making quantitative measurements of the forces generated. (JRH)

Presents a laboratory demonstration that helps students understand the concept of microscope calibration. (JRH)

Presents a simple but effective experiment that uses ultrasonic transducers and some basic electronics to study the speed of sound using the Doppler effect. Eliminates the noise problems associated with most sound experiments. Discusses the theory, and describes the apparatus and procedure. (JRH)

Presents experiments involving the analysis of commercial products such as carbonated beverages and antacids that illustrate the principles of acid-base reactions and present interesting problems in stoichiometry for students. (JRH)

Presents several resistance measurement experiments based on the function of a magnetic multimeter. Resistance is measured in terms of the current that the internal dry cell drives through the unknown resistor connected across the input terminals. For use with digital and nondigital multimeters. (LZ)

This rationale for teaching elementary-level science using a hands-on approach emphasizes the importance of students learning the process by which an outcome arises rather than just remembering the outcome. The article encourages use of everyday objects rather than fancy scientific apparatus and offers suggestions for helping students undertake…

Describes the construction of a simple micro well colorimeter, some examples of its use, and its value in a high school or undergraduate chemistry curriculum. (ZWH)