This booklet is designed to introduce young people, their parents, teachers, and advisers to various fields of and possible career opportunities in physics. The colorfully illustrated booklet, aimed particularly at junior high school students, highlights the work and experiences of several young physicists. Although physics is not usually taught…

Unified Technical Concepts (UTC) is a modular system for teaching applied physics in two-year postsecondary technician programs. This UTC laboratory textbook, the second of two volumes, consists of 45 learning modules dealing with basic concepts of physics. Addressed in the individual chapters of the guide are the following topics: force…

This booklet presents information about career opportunities for women in physics. Included are summaries of research areas in physics (optical physics, solid-state physics, materials science, nuclear physics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, cryogenics, plasma physics, biophysics, atmospheric physics) and differences between theory and…

Cognitive processes and knowledge structures used in physics problem-solving at the high school or freshmen college level were investigated by analysis of expert and novice human problem-solving behavior and by development of computer programs which can solve informally-stated physics problems. Computer representations for the information…

The research project described will identify the component skills (cognitive processes and associated knowledge structures) required for effective problem-solving, and identify the kinds of learning which can improve problem-solving ability. These areas will be investigated by means of a computer program which can solve physics problems stated in…

These hearings addressed cooperative efforts of the United States and the People's Republic of China under the 1979 agreement on science and technology. Thus far, there are more than 20 signed protocols (included in appendices) implementing the agreement in various scientific and technological areas. Activities in such areas as energy, health,…

Describes how to convert a wooden block into an apparatus to study friction. (LS)

Indicates that integration between mathematics and physics must include cooperation at the planning stage and explains the use of a precedence diagram to reduce the mismatch between the two subjects. (GS)

Describes how to build a Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator for less than $25.00; includes information on experiments and demonstrations that can be performed with this piece of equipment. (BR)

Describes the use of original research reports as a basis for classroom discussion. Concepts of the nature of evidence and inference can be treated in depth by means of classroom analysis of evidence. (Author/GS)

For several years physics faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have taught physics to pre-service elementary and middle school teachers in an unusual location: the local elementary school! The participating pre-service elementary and middle school teachers are typically in their last semester and are fully immersed in their…

Summarizes the results of a 1969 experiment survey made for learning the impact of special publications and the trend of experimentation in colleges. Describes some new or modified apparatus that has appared since the 1956 survey. (GS)

This final report summarizes work done to formulate and test some cognitively-based principles useful for designing instruction in scientific or engineering fields. These principles stress the coherence and interpretability of the knowledge acquired by students. The principles were specifically applied to: (1) analyze the underlying knowledge and…