Presents an experiment to investigate centripetal force and acceleration that utilizes an airplane suspended on a string from a spring balance. Investigates the possibility that lift on the wings of the airplane accounts for the differences between calculated tension and measured tension on the string. (MDH)

Describes software, hardware, and devices that were designed to provide students with an environment to experiment with basic ideas of mechanics, including nonlinear dynamics. Examines the behavior of a Lorenzian water wheel by comparing experimental data with theoretical results obtained from computer-based sensors. (MDH)

Detailed are the construction of a demonstration car, apparatus and procedures used in the demonstration, and the analysis of the effects of car braking. The cases of rear-wheel and front-wheel braking are considered. (CW)

Describes the construction of a wave generator used to review the algebraic relationships of wave motion. Students calculate and measure the weight needed to create tension to generate standing waves at the first eight harmonics. (MDH)

Describes how to measure the penultimate laboratory speed, a stress wave velocity in a solid rod. Also includes background information on stress waves, apparatus, and procedures. Employs a homemade interface for the IBM platform. (DDR)

Recounts the efforts of the Australian government to create an atomic research and development program after World War II. Describes initial cooperation with Britain and the push for the transformation of Australian higher and secondary education in service of national scientific development. Discusses effects of the end of Commonwealth…

The effects of bridging analogies teaching strategy and gender on Turkish high school students' misconceptions in mechanics were investigated. After a pilot study with 67 students in a nearby high school, the researchers' administered the revised Mechanics Misconception Test to 119 high school students as a pretest. Students in the experimental…

Explains the asymmetry between left-right and up-down when your image is viewed in a plane mirror in psychological rather than physical terms. (GS)

Describes the program, problems, politics, and exhibits which were encountered in a week long conference. Bibliographies include listings of available papers, curriculum materials, publishers, and equipment manufacturers available upon request. (CP)

Some designs of simple wave demonstration devices have been described in this journal and elsewhere. A new simple model can be built using only dowels, binder clips, and loops of thread. Not only can it be easily assembled, stored, or disassembled, but also all the students in a class can cooperate in its building by connecting successive pieces…

Describes how to construct a simple bimetallic element and pointer for an overhead projector. The device can be used to demonstrate operation of bimetallic elements. (RH)

Professional school counselors find themselves working in school organizations that are antiquated and are not a natural fit to the actual work of the counselors. However, lessons being learned from the new sciences and open systems perspectives may shed a great deal of light as to how schools can be restructured in order to best utilize the…

Two physics courses which serve as alternatives to general college courses in physics are outlined: physics with astrophysics and physics with electronics. Details are given of the structure of the courses and third year options are specified. (DT)