Presents a description of the power station game as a simulation exercise topic in physics and society, namely the making of a decision which involves many aspects of technical knowledge. Discusses the results of evaluation of students' attitudes toward the game, and attributes that make simulation an attractive teaching option. (GA)

Describes the following: use and construction of a lens-pinhole spatial filter assembly to produce expanded beams; how to modify a unilab V. L. F. oscillator to give variable frequencies between .1 Hz and 10 Hz; to use Crookes radiometer quantitatively; and an externally located, movable probe for plasma physics experiments, using conventional…

Describes a simple method to measure the size of the Earth to an accuracy of order of magnitude 10 percent. The procedure involves finding the time interval between two sunsets, a sunset observed at sea level while lying down, and a sunset viewed at eye height after standing up. (GA)

Discusses several aspects of Fraunhofer diffraction patterns from apertures illuminated by diverging light. Develops a generalization to apertures of arbitrary shape which shows that the sizes of the pattern are related by a simple scale factor. Uses the Abbe theory of image formation by diffraction to discuss the intensity of illumination of the…

Discusses the meaning of readability, and describes several popular methods of assessing it. Gives the results of the application of one particular method to a selection of elementary astronomy and physics texts. (Author/GA)

Describes an experiment for the intermediate undergraduate optics laboratory designed to illustrate simultaneously some aspects of the phenomena of diffraction; interference, coherence, apodization, the Fresnel-Arago law; as well as of the interrelations between these concepts. (HM)

Describes how to construct a device that will show interference fringes formed by multiple reflections in an air gap between two partially silvered glass surfaces. (MLH)

Discusses an instructional method for analyzing energy shortage problems in relation to the environment. (MLH)

Noting the lack of time in the 2-year program and the impatience of most student technicians, the author suggests that physics should be taught inductively. Laboratory experiments with understanding of the underlying physics principles are suggested as the appropriate center of activity. Examples are given of this emphasis on experimentation as…

Describes how to construct a moving reference frame for the quantitative measurement of the Coriolis effect. (MLH)

Discusses a photograph of an unusual combination of lunar halos: the 22-degree refraction halo, the circumscribed halo, and a reflection halo. Deduces the form and orientations of the ice crystals responsible for the observed halo features. (MLH)

Looks at current attempts to bridge the brain/mind gap. (Editor)

Describes a validation study in which tenth-grade students received instruction on electric circuits using a learning hierarchy of concepts constructed from a task analysis procedure. (MLH)

Demonstrates that the number of kilometers of highway in the U.S. tends to grow exponentially and discusses what can be done to modify this growth. (MLH)

Describes a simple apparatus that measures atmospheric pressure within 20 percent of the accepted value using a syringe, spring scale, and a ruler. (MLH)