Describes the joint effort of Canada and NASA in monitoring the Canadian environment using remote-sensing techniques. The project involves the Earth Resources Technology Satellite and has been used to observe seasonal changes, extent of snow cover, crop growth, sea ice, and land use patterns. (GS)

Describes the use of remote sensing methods in Europe and explores the problem of interpretation of the raw data obtained. (GS)

Describes an experiment on learning transfer which has implications for the order in which the topics of baryons, leptons, charge, energy, and momentum are taught. (GS)

In this paper we develop materials to address student interest in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. We discuss the physical characteristics of tsunamis and some of the specific data regarding the 2004 event. Finally, we create an easy-to-make tsunami tank to run simulations in the classroom. The simulations exhibit three dramatic…

Weights suspended from a lever arm separate evacuated hemispheres allowing estimation of atmospheric pressure to within five percent of the barometric reading. An illustration and a reference to von Guericke's demonstration are provided. (GH)

Describes a project to produce a series of laboratory manuals and instructional materials in which nuclear experiments are presented for the undergraduate advanced laboratory. The manuals are being compiled in the areas of physics, chemistry, geology and environmental sciences. (BR)

Gives a brief survey of the different versions of the air trough and related devices. Presents some of the applications of this equipment in the teaching of the concepts of inertia, acceleration, and velocity. (GS)

Information on the influence of employment mobility and career change on the flexibility of the physics labor force is provided, noting the past several decades have brought a dramatic roller coaster of changes to the physics community. Five sections are as follows: membership composition (demographics, professional self-identification, and…

By studying many observations from recent research dealing with beginning physics students' conceptions about forces and motion, this investigation produced a framework within which this research can be organized. The framework summarizes the mechanisms of force invoked by students in particular situations, and it describes the features of…

This paper describes Macintosh features which can be used in writing interactive programs. A program written in Microsoft BASIC (version 2.0 interpreter) is described which is used to produce plots of electric field produced by two-dimensional arrangements of point charges. It demonstrates the use of pull-down menus, windows on the screen, the…

The need and impacts of technology are addressed in this report from the Netherlands. The position is stated that technology should be made a part of general education because of its growing influence on politics, social relations, and the economy. Topics addressed include: (1) the need for technology as an element of general education (outlining…

The Federal Republic of Germany's space policy is designed to promote basic research, contribute to the development of space technology, and apply the findings in the public and private sectors. It is also aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the West German space industry and helping countries of the Third World to solve their development…

This study aimed to identify the main difficulties faced by physics students and then devise teaching units to overcome the difficulties, and to investigate whether there was any improvement in achievement in physics if mathematical skills were being stressed explicitly in physics lessons. The topics chosen for this study were graphs, errors, and…

Listening to sounds is a very important way of learning about one's environment, but there is more to sound than just listening. Many educators feel that it is important for students to gain some understanding of the physical phenomena of sound. This teacher's guide contains lesson plans, background information, and activities designed…

Described is a computer tutor designed to help students gain a qualitative understanding of important physics concepts. The tutor simulates a teaching strategy called "bridging analogies" that previous research has demonstrated to be successful in one-on-one tutoring and written explanation studies. The strategy is designed to remedy…