Describes an experiment which studies the motion of an irregular Lucite glider on an air table and demonstrates the dynamic properties of the center of mass. (Author/GA)

Investigates the shape a liquid takes, due to its surface tension while suspended upon a wire frame in zero-g, using Lagrange multipliers. Shows how the configuration of soap films so bounded are dependent upon the volume of liquid trapped in the films. (Author/GA)

Derives the precessional period of a Foucault pendulum without using small oscillation amplitudes. Shows that if the path of the pendulum passes through the origin, the periods for differing amplitudes are essentially the same. (GA)

Outlines a strategy for science education aimed at the development of intuition concerning phenomena predicted by fundamental theories. The computer is used to build such intuition by providing a range of experiences not found in the everyday world or in the laboratory. (GA)

Outlines the sources of nuclear power, types of nuclear reactors, factors involved in the processing of uranium, and problems of radioactive waste storage. (SL)

Pierre Gassendi asserted, and for the first time successfully defended, the notion of an independently real space and time, thus providing seventeenth century physics with its needed philosophical foundation. This paper introduces the reader to Gassendi's work in physics and philosophy and describes some of his relationships to Galileo and his…

Two methods are described for the quantitative description of the motion of the sun as observed from Mercury. A listing of a computer subroutine is included. The combination of slow rotation and high eccentricity of Mercury's orbit makes this problem an interesting one. (BB)

A simple and concrete example for illustrating the properties of noncompact groups is presented. The example is based on the covariant harmonic-oscillator formalism in which the relativistic wave functions carry a covariant-probability interpretation. This can be used in a group theory course for graduate students who have some background in…

A relativistic harmonic-oscillator formalism which is mathematically simple as the nonrelativistic harmonic oscillator is given. In view of its effectiveness in describing Lorentz-deformed hadrons, the inclusion of this formalism in a first-year graduate course will make the results of high-energy experiments more understandable. (BB)

Mathematical theorems about the properties of ellipsoids are developed. Included are Poisson's theorem concerning the magnetization of a homogeneous body of ellipsoidal shape, the polarization of a dielectric, the transport of heat or electricity through an ellipsoid, and other problems. (BB)

Energy eigenstates are superimposed in order to form a wave packet for an electron propagating in one dimension under the influence of a uniform, time-dependent electric field. A graphical method is presented by which one can obtain both the position and shape of the envelope. (BB)

A complete matrix formulation of the theory of small oscillations is presented. Simple analytic solutions involving matrix functions are found which clearly exhibit the transients, the damping factors, the Breit-Wigner form for resonances, etc. (BB)

Presents the results of two experiments concerning the phenomena of the interference of probabilities and of the so called Aharonov-Bohm effect. An electron biprism and a standard electron microscope have been used for the experiments. (Author/GA)

Describes historical experiments involving the determination of momenta of elementary particles via various scattering processes. (SL)

Discusses Zeeman's experiment of the Fiyea effect for the speed of light in a moving medium and existing measurement errors. (SL)