Described is an advanced undergraduate physics laboratory experiment for determining an area, and bandwidth-independent parameter, D* ("dee star"), of an infrared detection devices' detectivity. (SL)

Describes an experimental technique for determining liquid dielectric constants by measuring the rise of the liquid in a paralled-plate capacitor at a known voltage. (MLH)

Describes some experiments for investigating the speed of atomic gas beams and displaying their atomic character. Discusses the experimental apparatus and the time-of-flight method. (YP)

Presents a relatively short, simple, safe, and visual method for student preparation of chlorine, bromine, and iodine using reactants and glassware that are easy to obtain and handle. (WRM)

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) project designed as a module for the undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory is described. The effects of van der Waals interactions on the condensed-phase structure are examined by the analysis of the pattern of the monolayer structures.

We present a simple computer-based laboratory experiment for evaluating absolute zero in degrees Celsius, which can be performed in college and undergraduate physical sciences laboratory courses. With a computer, absolute zero apparatus can help demonstrators or students to observe the relationship between temperature and pressure and use…

A nonlinear aspect of the acousto-optic interaction that is analogous to multi-photon absorption is discussed. An experiment is described in which the second-order acousto-optically scattered intensity is measured and found to scale with the square of the acoustic intensity. This experiment using a commercially available acousto-optic modulator is…

We propose an apparatus for teaching experimental thermodynamics in undergraduate introductory courses, using thermoelectric modules and a real-time data acquisition system. The device may be made at low cost, still providing an easy approach to the investigation of liquid-solid and liquid-vapour phase transitions and of metastable states…

Developments in the laboratory-based teaching of physics and astronomy are resulting from the collaboration between conventional and distance teaching universities. The collaboration, piCETL, is one of the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning established as a result of a broad initiative by the Higher Education Funding Council for…