Compares physics teaching at a large American university with teaching at Jilin University in Changchun, China. Describes the teaching atmosphere, staff duties, and student requirements at both the undergraduate and graduate level. (MVL)

Outlines a theoretical framework for viewing students' conceptions and the effect of analogies on students' conceptions. (PR)

Describes the effects when a clear toothbrush is used as total internally reflecting light pipe when attached to a laser. Several explanations are given describing the nonuniformity of the transmitted light resulting from surface and internal irregularities found in the toothbrush. (MVL)

Describes a method for producing beat frequencies by carrying a vibrating tuning fork quickly toward a wall or chalkboard. A mathematical explanation is provided. (MVL)

Provides a description, photograph, and relevant analysis of a simple device for demonstration of rotational motion. (LZ)

By developing a sequence of mathematical models of harmonic motion, shows that mathematical models are not right or wrong, but instead are better or poorer representations of the problem situation. (MKR)

Describes the theory behind tapered resistors and liquid crystals and their use in the Duracell battery test strip. Presents related electrical problems for students. (JRH)

Presents the Astro-Blaster as a method of the laws of conservation of momentum and energy during the creation of a supernova. Several elastic balls are aligned for a drop, followed by multiple collisions which result in the top ball reaching tremendous heights relative to the drop height. (JRH)

Describes activities that will help students understand how car seat belts work, the limited reaction time available to passengers in an automobile accident, and the force of impact in a car collision. These activities will provide students with hands-on experiences that demonstrate the importance of always wearing seat belts while in an…

Describes the involvement of students in the construction of an inexpensive wooden balance to aid in their understanding of mass. (ZWH)

A comparison of the physics concepts explanations of ninth graders and of physics graduates and graduate students found that physics novices were strongly inclined to conceptualize physics concepts as material substances, whereas experts' protocols revealed distinctly nonmaterialistic representations. (MDM)

Describes the relationships a high school built with neighborhood industry, a national laboratory, a national museum, and a large university while trying to build a scale model of the original atomic pile. Provides suggestions for teachers. (MVL)

Discusses a well-known optical refraction problem where the depth of an object in a liquid is determined. Proposes that many texts incorrectly solve the problem. Provides theory, equations, and diagrams. (MVL)

Uses common equipment (tea kettle and vacuum bottles) to precisely measure the specific heat, latent heat of fusion, and latent heat of vaporization of water. Provides descriptions for all three experiments. (MVL)

Students construct a Sierpinski gasket from resistors and measure its resistance as a function of size. Provides a brief review of what it means geometrically for the Sierpinski gasket to be fractal, followed by an explanation of how to analyze the electrical resistance on a gasket to find its fractal behavior. (MVL)