Describes the consequences of changing the sixth-form physics syllabus for ages 17-18 in Hong Kong in the last 20 years. Considers further changes necessary to attract more students to physics. Appendix includes contents of physics syllabuses in 1978 and 1996. (Author/MKR)

Discusses the various aspects of explanations that make up an explanatory framework and the notion of pedagogical content knowledge. Analyzes an exemplary set of physics explanations to identify the individual and holistic characteristics of an effective explanation. (Author/SAH)

Describes an activity for observing the pressure differences between mountain air and sea level air by bottling air. (YDS)

Includes four articles that discuss a distributed architecture for managing metadata that promotes interoperability between digital libraries; the use of electronic print (e-print) by physicists; the development of digital libraries; and a collaborative project between two library consortia in Ohio to provide digital versions of Sanborn Fire…

Considers whether there might be cultural elements that lie behind the tendency of physics to be a more popular option with boys than with girls. Concludes that making sweeping assumptions about male and female preferences is liable to create more problems. (Author/MM)

Who owns a new science course once it has been developed? If teachers teach a course in their own way, does this transformation improve or deform it? The development of "Advancing Physics" provokes some fresh thought about these questions. (Author/MM)

Describes a simple exercise in percolation theory that can be performed easily and quickly in a laboratory using paper and a hole punch. (Author/MM)

Presents a simple experiment to help students visualize the concept of displacement current. (CCM)

Examines the simultaneous occurrence of ultraviolet light and the photoelectric effect. (CCM)

Describes empirical research into the effectiveness of using concepts and principles of physics in the teaching of geometrical proofs. Demonstrates, tentatively, that proofs from physics could be a viable addition to the mathematics curriculum. (Author/MM)

Presents the results of a study designed to measure the level of science anxiety in students enrolled in physics courses at Loyola University in Chicago. The leading factors contributing to science anxiety include nonscience anxiety and gender. Concludes that the teaching of an introductory physics course can reduce acute levels of science…

Teaches data interpretation using the example of world running records for men and women. Explains different ways of plotting data. (YDS)

When students are forming their ideas of what will eventually become the concept of force, the images of arrows in our standard diagrams carry with them unconscious attributes of direction of movement and so on. Describes how the use of a 'symbolic representation of interactions' with double-headed arrows avoids these unwanted messages being…

Identifies specific difficulties students had with ionizing radiation and radioactivity using interviews. Explores students' pre-instruction thoughts on these topics. (Author/MM)

Describes a laboratory experiment on surface tension. (Contains 14 references.) (YDS)