Analyzes students' misunderstanding of basic thermodynamic concepts on historical grounds. Finds that the persistence of some ideas from the caloric model are reinforced by magnitude names and unit definitions that were brought up at the early stages of thermodynamic development. Explores the failure of many popular textbooks to make a clear…

A National Curriculum for postgraduate science teacher training courses in England and Wales was first introduced in September 1999. Reviews the new curriculum and associated assessment procedures and raises points for discussion. Particular attention is paid to the implications for prospective high school physics teachers. (Author/MM)

Examines searching patterns of students using the Web as science information resources. Attempts to provide detailed accounts of how students use the Web as a science resource and illuminate how the different levels of domain knowledge and expertise, and situational interest impact students' ability to find useful and relevant information on the…

Examines structural characteristics of university engineering students' conceptions of energy elicited through paragraph writing and their relations with categories of their conceptions specific to energy in solution processes identified through interviews. Reports that structures of students' conceptions are characterized primarily by…

Introduces physics laboratory experiments offered to general public by the Stockholm Science Laboratory demonstrating collaboration between theory and experiment. (YDS)

Suggests an integrated approach to make science teaching and learning more effective, interesting and motivating to students. Argues that team teaching by physics and geology departments enables students to learn concepts and principles of physics and apply them to solve geological problems facing the local community. Reports that a typical…

Discusses methods for addressing at-risk factors in introductory physics and how they can be implemented. Offers recommendations for creating an effective program within the structure of a research university. (MM)

Explores the practice of one high school teacher who provided students with concrete examples from their physics class to give them a contextually rich environment in which to explore the abstractions of calculus. Indicates that students discovered connections between the physics concepts of position, velocity, and acceleration and the calculus…

Explains the changing colors on a cathode ray tube monitor while flying on an airplane. (CCM)

Presents an approach for students to grasp the series RLC circuit that involves a virtual four-channel oscilloscope installed on a laptop computer. (CCM)

Describes a solution to alleviate the low numbers of students graduating from the majority of physics programs throughout the nation. Discusses the outcome of a virtual physics department. (Author/CCM)

Describes a method for visually demonstrating resonance in a wine glass on an overhead projector. Provides instructions for making a "howling" wine glass where two slightly different tones separated by an irritating interval sound alternately. (WRM)

Explores simple equations such as the exponential decay function, a terminal velocity situation, and the more complex situations of the simple harmonic oscillator and damped oscillations. (Author/CCM)

Reports on group conceptions of magnetism. (Author/CCM)

Analyzed the scientific-inquiry studies of 22 high school physics students for operational rules as they physically and mentally manipulated materials over 9 weeks. The study found six operational rules and determined that scientific activity could be described in terms of structural transformational rules and in terms of behavior, information,…