Fire-fighting considerations teachers may want to raise with students in physics classes are discussed. Concepts involved in extinguishing fires and the operation of fire equipment are detailed. (CW)

Children's ideas about radiation and radioactivity are reviewed and several common areas of misunderstanding are identified. An approach to teaching the topic at the secondary school level which seeks to specifically address known difficulties is outlined. (CW)

Presented is a brief history of manufacturing chocolate and an outline of production methods. Describes laboratory techniques used to monitor liquid chocolate viscosity. Discusses a simple experiment which can be performed in the classroom. (Author/CW)

Provides the apparatus setup, experimental method, necessary formulas, and references for three measurement experiments: (1) "Determine the Magnetic Induction of a Coil with a Hall Element"; (2) "Measuring Magnetic Force and Magnetic Field of Small Permanent Magnets"; and (3) "Measurements of Sound Velocity by Means of PZT" (piezoelectric…

The Moire pattern is the shimmering pattern which looks like an odd interference pattern in window screens or folds of nylon shower curtain. Illustrates some of the ways the effect may be used, including demonstration of wave interference, detection of small displacement, persistence of vision, contour measurement, beats, and optical clearness.…

Examines the working mechanism of a commercial "Mystery Glow-Ball" by analyzing its electronic circuitry. Finds that the advertising for the ball is wrong; energy actually came from inserting a battery. (YP)

Considers what college students think reasoning about physics involves. Discusses whether it is possible to identify students' general conceptions of physics and the effects of a course on students' concepts. Data indicated that students' understandings had an effect on problem solving, qualitative problems, and misconceptions. (YP)

Described is a mechanically driven device for generating three-dimensional harmonic space figures with different frequencies and phase angles on the X, Y, and Z axes. Discussed are apparatus, viewing stereo pairs, equations of motion, and using space figures in classroom. (YP)

Differential drift of item location parameters over a 10-year period is demonstrated in data from the College Board Physics Achievement Test. Item content and secondary school curricula shifts are associated with drift. Statistical procedures for detecting item parameter drift in item pools for long-term testing programs are proposed. (TJH)

Describes college physics courses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Presents honors degree courses, entry requirements, course structure, and further information from 93 colleges in the British Isles. (YP)

Describes college physics courses in Scotland. Presents honors degree courses, entry requirements, course structure, and further information from 15 colleges in Scotland. (YP)

Describes a high school physics teaching sequence including more modern topics. The first quarter covers cosmology, astronomy, optics, wave mechanics, relativity, gravity, and quantum theory. The second quarter covers classical mechanics. The third quarter covers electromagnetism and electronics. The fourth quarter consists of thermodynamics and…

Described is the manufacture of a superconductor from a commercially available kit using equipment usually available in schools or easily obtainable. The construction is described in detail including equipment, materials, safety procedures, tolerances, and manufacture. (Author/CW)

This article reports the status of an undergraduate course in introductory physics at the University of Ulster and its success over the past 11 years. The original plan, problems, changes, and an assessment of the course are discussed. Lists 11 references. (YP)

Discussed are two contrasting views about the nature of scientific thinking including Pearson's and Collingwood's. The contexts of questions, methods, problems, experiments, and history are described as contexts of inquiry. The physical thoughts of scientists from pre-Aristotelian times to the present are outlined in relation to contexts of…