Provides background information and references on Comet Halley (which will be observable by telescope in October 1985 and reach its most brilliant appearance in March and April of 1986). Suggestions for equipment and maps of its path through the sky are included. (DH)

Presents comments from the editorial board of Physics Education to the Royal Society's ad-hoc group on science and the public. Areas examined include whether schools provide students with a useful understanding of science and technology (ST), if the public has sufficient understanding of ST to make balanced judgements, and others. (JN)

Describes a precipitation experiment which follows a yellow powder experiment discussed in part 1 (vol 62 no 3 p238-40). Advantages of using a Petri dish to perform the experiment, laboratory procedures used, instructional strategies, and implications for chemistry curriculum and instruction are discussed. (JN)

Ability to distinguish between causal (cause-effect) and teleological (means-ends) explanations was measured in 1905 twelfth-grade biology students and found to be dependent on student knowledge. Although the inability to make these distinctions contributes to misconceptions in biology, appropriate instruction can easily remedy the problem. Sample…

Six secondary school teachers describe their most successful earth science investigations. They include various outdoor field activities, road-map reading skills, student-prepared and conducted investigations, and use of several materials for studying volcanoes. (JN)

Describes an experiment in which the final speed of a toy car is predicted by measuring the elastic potential energy stored in its spring at the start and the energy lost to friction during the run. Conservation of energy is discussed and the necessary mathematical formulas are presented. (BC)

In most astronomy courses, descriptions of stars and constellations reveal the western European origins of the astronomers who named them. However, it is suggested that a study of non-western views be incorporated into astronomy curricula. Descriptions of various stars and constellations from different cultures and instructional strategies are…

Reviews the basic properties and evidence for their existence. (The sequel will consider the consequences if a human being had opportunity to interact directly with a black hole.) (JN)

Presents data on student attitudes (N=380) toward chemistry using the Student Opinion Survey in Chemistry (SOSC) and compares these data with those reported in H. Heikkinen's 1973 doctoral dissertation. The potential usefulness of using the SOSC in cross-national studies is also discussed. (Author/JN)

Shows how electronic spreadsheets can be used in science classrooms for such tasks as ordering and keeping track of supplies and for organizing experiments. Sample printouts of records prepared by use of the spreadsheets are included. (JN)

Shows how the use of pulleys can add a new direction to experiments that demonstrate forces. Procedures used and typical student results are included. (JN)

Focuses on science competitions by describing the objectives of and strategies used in several types of school competitions. Includes, when applicable, sources of additional information on specific programs (such as the Duracell Scholarship Competition and the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium). (JN)

Discusses: (1) extrinsic ethics; (2) intrinsic ethics; (3) why ethics should be taught in science; and (4) ethics in the Science in Society course. (JN)

Discusses why light is able to pass through a thick piece of glass but not through a thin piece of paper. (JN)

Discusses various ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA)-type chelating agents found in ophthalmic products, personal care products, and disinfectants. Also discusses the properties and action of these EDTA agents. (JN)