Duplicates an analysis conducted 20 years ago on physics enrollment in New York State in an attempt to verify the exploratory percentage enrollment in physics path analysis model using data gathered for the 1990-91 school year. Findings indicate that there has been no change in the set of variables related to physics enrollment. (Author/JRH)

Discusses the physics behind the synchronization of chaos. Describes an easy to build an electronic circuit which can be used to demonstrate chaos and the synchronization of chaos. Contains 19 references. (JRH)

Presents a demonstration designed to illustrate Faraday's, Ampere's, and Lenz's laws and to reinforce the concepts through the analysis of a two-loop magnetic circuit. Can be made dramatic and challenging for sophisticated students but is suitable for an introductory course in electricity and magnetism. (JRH)

Describes an apparatus for crystal growth that was designed to study growth kinetics of small crystals from solutions and to obtain crystals of various substances. Describes the use of the apparatus in laboratory practical experiments in the field of crystal growth physics within the course "Solid State Physics". (JRH)

Studied the ways in which students experience first-year physics, interviewing 20 college students in Sweden. Three unproductive ways of making sense of physics were identified, and three ways that support the formation of a well-grounded physics knowledge object are also described. (SLD)

Describes the total internal reflection process that occurs when the internal angle of incidence is equal to or greater than the critical angle. Presents a demonstration of the effect of frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). (YDS)

Shows how physics, arguably the most confusing of the sciences, can be told as an interesting and informative tale of determination and discovery that even middle school students can grasp, presenting the story of the scientific detective work that eventually convinced the world that the atom existed. (SM)

Explores why students fail to learn from teacher demonstrations in a physics course. Reports that six dimensions may have prevented student learning, including lack of a theoretical framework to separate signals from noise, interference of discourses learned in other contexts, interference from other demonstrations and images, and problems in…

Investigates students' understanding of the transfer of charge between two charged conductors. Findings indicate that a considerable number of students from eighth grade to college in advanced physics courses were unable to predict the transfer of charge correctly from one conductor to another. Discusses implications for instruction. (JRH)

Discussion of knowledge domain visualization focuses on practical issues concerning modeling and visualizing scientific revolutions. Studies growth patterns of specialties derived from citation and cocitation data on string theory in physics, using the general framework of Thomas Kuhn's structure of scientific revolutions. (Author/LRW)

Explains that the geometrical interpretation of general relativity provides the formalism with intuitive imagery and an interpretation often presupposes a substantival space. Special relativity can also be interpreted substantivally, which is the key to laying out an internally coherent substantivalist line running from Newtonian mechanics to…

Studies the understanding that 8-12 grade high school students were able to develop with regard to the interrelationships between resistance, potential difference, and current concepts (Ohm's law). Explores the immediate effects of exposure to electricity courses on the intuitive mastery of these relationships. (Contains 32 references.)…

Introduces an activity that focuses on qualitative and quantitative measurements of density, mass, volume, area, length, and units for making measurements and simple calculations. Includes instructor information and a student activity sheet. (Contains 14 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents resources from Alhazens' investigations on curved mirrors that investigate diffuse reflection from the moon's surface, composite mirrors, and the problem of possible points of reflection. (Author/YDS)

Presents the results of a survey of (n=81) colleges of pharmacy affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) regarding physics requirements for the pre-pharmacy major. Describes strengths and weaknesses as reported by the college representatives. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/YDS)