bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipase Catalysis in Ionic Liquids and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide at 150 °C
Authors: Lozano Pedro , de Diego Teresa , Carrié Daniel , Vaultier Michel , Iborra José L.
Published: April 2003

Free and immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B dispersed in ionic liquids (1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bistriflimide and 1‐buthyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bistriflimide) were used as catalyst for the continuous kinetic resolution of rac‐1‐phenylethanol in supercritical carbon dioxide at 120 and 150 °C and 10 MPa. Excellent activity, stability and enantioselectivity levels were recorded in continuous operation.
Batch Kinetics of Pseudomonas sp. Growth on Benzene. Modeling of Product and Substrate Inhibitions
Authors: Monero Alessandra , Lanza Luca , Zilli Mario , Sene Luciane , Converti Attilio
Published: April 2003

Batch tests of benzene degradation were performed in liquid phase at 30 °C, pH 6.8 ± 0.2, and 200 rpm in two 3‐L stirred tank bioreactors, using the benzene‐degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. NCIMB 9688. A relatively high starting biomass level (220–270 mgX/L) and starting benzene concentration ranging from 20 to 200 mgS/L were selected as conditions to investigate possible inhibition phenomena. Volumetric as well as specific rates of biomass formation and substrate consumption were calculated from experimental data of both growth and benzene degradation and used to propose and check a new overall kinetic model for cell growth simultaneously accounting for both product and substrate inhibitions. The results of the present study evidenced the occurrence of a competitive‐type product inhibition due to 2‐hydroxymuconic semialdehyde ( KiP′ = 0.902 mgS/L), which was stronger than the uncompetitive‐type inhibition exerted by substrate ( KiS = 7.69 mgS/L).
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment of Multicultural Genetic Counselor Education
Authors: Wang Vivian Ota
Published: April 2003

Multicultural competence in genetic counseling integrates racial‐cultural knowledge, awareness, and skills into clinical interventions and research practices. Researchers and educators often cite racial‐cultural factors as obstacles for visible racial‐cultural people seeking help. However, the professional's unfamiliarity of how his or her own racial‐cultural group affiliations are influenced by the history of discrimination and oppression coupled with their lack of self‐understanding of racial‐cultural issues for him‐ or herself has also limited the effectiveness of genetic counseling. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Handbook of Cross‐Cultural Genetic Counseling, a multicultural curriculum developed for genetic counselor education for increasing multicultural counseling competence. The multicultural curriculum was evaluated for its effectiveness of increasing multicultural counseling competence using a nonequivalent control group design. A participant's multicultural counseling competence was hypothesized to increase after being taught the curriculum. The curriculum was effective for increasing multicultural counseling competence. Additionally, achieved multicultural counseling competence was not influenced by when the curriculum was taught. Trend analyses measuring the longitudinal impact of the curriculum on multicultural competence were significant. Implications of the results are discussed.
Effects of Enforcement of Youth Access Laws on Smoking Prevalence
Authors: Jason Leonard A. , Berk Marjorie , Schnopp-Wyatt Daniel L. , Talbot Bruce
Published: April 2003

Smoking is the primary preventable cause of death, and yet 3,000 adolescents become smokers each day. Most adult smokers begin this deadly habit when they are under the age of 18, which is the minimum legal age for the purchase of cigarettes. The majority of adolescent smokers are able to purchase cigarettes even though laws prohibit the sale of cigarettes to minors. In the late 1980s, Woodridge, IL, became one of the first towns in the nation to demonstrate a significant reduction in the ability of youth to purchase cigarettes. Almost 2 years after passage of this legislation, the percentage of regular smokers among 7th‐ and 8th‐grade students had been reduced from 16 to 5%. Seven‐year follow‐up data in a sample of high school youths indicate that youths living in communities with regular enforcement had significantly less smoking than those living in communities without regular enforcement. In particular, rates of regular smoking were 8.1% in communities with regular enforcement versus 15.5% in communities without regular enforcement. It is possible that adolescents who had restricted access to tobacco products were less likely to become regular smokers. These findings have important public health implications, particularly in light of recent federal legislation mandating that all states develop programs to reduce access of youth to tobacco products.
Preconception Genetic Counseling: Three Years of Experience at a Community‐Based Health Center
Authors: Lemke Amy A. , Dayal Sheela , Geibel Leslie J.
Published: April 2003

In the United States, access to genetic education and services is not equally available to all segments of the population, especially to women of minority backgrounds and low incomes. In response to this issue, the Preconception Genetic Health Education Program (PGHEP) was implemented in September of 1993 at the Woodlawn Maternal and Child Health Center in south side Chicago. The goal of this program is to provide access to genetic services to a previously underserved population. Women attending the family planning clinics are offered free, confidential preconception genetic screening and counseling on‐site. As of January 1, 1997, 1300 women have participated in the program. The development and implementation of the PGHEP, client self‐reports of family histories and beliefs, and implications for future delivery of genetic services are discussed.
Secondary traumatic stress effects of working with survivors of criminal victimization
Authors: Salston MaryDale , Figley Charles R.
Published: April 2003

This paper focuses on the consequences for providers of working with survivors of traumatic events, particularly criminal victimization. The paper reviews the relevant research and treatment literature associated with secondary traumatic stress (STS) and related variables (burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and countertransference). The latter part of the paper identifies the most important mitigating factors in the development of STS. These include good training specific to trauma work, a personal history of trauma, and the interpersonal resources of the worker. Implications for treatment, prevention, and research are discussed.
Teaching symmetry in the introductory physics curriculum
Authors: Hill Christopher T. , Lederman Leon M.
Published: April 2003

Modern physics is largely defined by fundamental symmetry principles and Noether’s theorem. Yet these are not taught, or rarely mentioned, to beginning students, thus missing an opportunity to reveal that the subject of physics is as lively and contemporary as molecular biology, and as beautiful as the arts. We prescribe a symmetry module, of a week’s length, to insert into the curriculum.
A pedagogical note on the Doppler-effect formulas
Authors: Dibble William E.
Published: April 2003

A simple, quick, and elementary proof of the nonrelativistic Doppler effect formula in one dimension is given. It is based on the classical invariance of the wavelength for transformations from one moving reference frame to another.
Decisive factors in teaching and learning
Authors: Gang Su
Published: April 2003

Physics teachers in China generally use the traditional lecture-demonstration method in classroom teaching. This note describes an alternative teaching experiment designed to keep students’ attention and interest.
From electromagnetic induction to electromagnetic radiation
Authors: Mak Se-yuen
Published: April 2003

A pair of LC circuits is employed to show the effect of mutual induction through air. A neon bulb in each circuit indicates differences in loose, critical, and tight coupling. The circuits can also be used to show the transmission of audio signal using radio wave.
Electric field of a two-charge dipole: A graphical approach extended
Authors: Weinstock Robert
Published: April 2003

Christopher Bracikowski presented a simple diagrammatic demonstration that the electric field of a two-point-charge dipole falls off, along a perpendicular bisector of the dipole, considerably more rapidly than the inverse-square fall-off of the field of a single point charge. This note shows this demo can also be used to produce a fully quantitative derivation of the inverse-cube dependence of the distant electric field of two-point charge dipole along any of its perpendicular bisectors.
Physics in a soap dispenser—dancing dolphins
Authors: Barrett Bob
Published: April 2003

This article discusses the principles behind soap dispensers, paper weights, and other two-medium physics toys. The article explains why two liquid mediums give dramatic wave effects. It discusses how objects of an in-between density (like dolphins or ducks) float on the boundary between these two liquids. Finally, these floating objects are buoyed up even more as the bottom solution does not “wet” the floating objects, even as a paper clip can be made to “float” on water due to surface tension.
A nonuniform circular-motion experiment
Authors: Penny Desmond N.
Published: April 2003

This paper develops the equation for the period of a mass that rotates at the end of a string in a vertical circle where the tension in the string at the top of the circle is zero. It uses the Work-Energy equations to analyze this motion. It then compares the theory with experimental data.
Two-dimensional pendulum experiments using a spark generator
Authors: Worland Rand S. , Moelter Matthew J.
Published: April 2003

Student understanding of the superposition of orthogonal harmonic oscillators can be enhanced using a spark generator to record position-versus-time data for small-amplitude pendulum motion in two dimensions. Sophomore-level physics majors in our Waves and Optics class have used this arrangement to analyze the motion of a spherical pendulum and a “Y-suspended” (Blackburn) pendulum that has two effective lengths. We describe the laboratory exercises and show student data and analysis.
Coupled harmonic oscillators made easy
Authors: Carnevali Antonino , Newton Cynthia L.
Published: April 2003

Using two motion sensors to display the normal coordinates provides a simple way of revealing in real time the characteristic frequencies of coupled harmonic oscillators. A director comparison with the theory can be made without restrictions on the initial conditions.
The rhetoric of science education reform
Authors: Cobern William W.
Published: April 2003

Leon Lederman’s Project ARISE promotes a “physics first” reorganization of the secondary science curriculum. As a Nobel laureate in physics, his ideas have attracted considerable attention. Issues outside of physics, however, that Lederman does not appear ready to acknowledge will limit the impact Lederman hopes to achieve.
Physics and astronomy together
Authors: Mamola Karl C.
Published: April 2003

This issue of The Physics Teacher may be a first — most of the pages deal with topics in astronomy. Indeed, many of us at colleges and universities work in departments of “Physics and Astronomy” and often we see students choose physics as a major partly because of an interest in astronomy. At high schools, the physics teacher and the astronomy teacher may be one and the same.
A method to help students overcome astronomy misconceptions
Authors: Comins Neil F.
Published: April 2003

Students come into astronomy courses or courses with astronomy content believing a significant number of incorrect ideas about the cosmos. Without our addressing these beliefs, it is extremely difficult for students to permanently replace them with accurate information. In this paper I report on the impact of forcing students to address on paper their prior beliefs by asking misconception-based questions in class. I give the correct answers during the next class. I find that students go through a series of feelings about this process. These often end in their own discovery of the importance of thinking about what they believe and their enthusiastic anticipation of the correct answer.
Seeing far: Building an observational astronomy program
Authors: Caton Daniel B.
Published: April 2003

Look to the stars to find a field of expansion for your physics department! I believe that it is both farsighted and practical — even for physics departments with limited offerings — to find opportunities for richer instruction and research experience for astronomy students. Such expansion can add life to a department and expand enrollment numbers. I present here an outline of the methods we used and resources we found to help us on our way to a program that generates excitement among the students and brings satisfaction and some pride to both faculty and administration.
“Hot Topics” in astrophysics
Authors: Maran Stephen P.
Published: April 2003

Three current topics in astrophysics are described on the occasion of the joint meeting of the AAPT and the American Astronomical Society (Jan. 7-11, 2001) in San Diego, CA. They are the habitability of Mars (evidence for ancient and contemporary water and indications of current volcanism); black holes and their intimate relationship with galaxy bulges, including their involvement in the x-ray background; and the nature and origin of gamma-ray bursts.
An interdisciplinary approach to stargazing
Authors: Baker Blane , Heruth Dan
Published: April 2003

Student queries often provide the impetus for investigating simply stated, yet intriguing, scientific questions. Such is the case for one asked recently in an introductory astronomy course: Can we really see a sixth-magnitude star with the unaided eye?
Video spectroscopy—Emission, absorption, and flash
Authors: Collins Donald F.
Published: April 2003

Mounting a high-efficiency holographic diffraction grating directly in front of the lens of a color video camera permits whole-class observation of various types of spectra: emission lines from atomic discharge lamps; Fraunhofer absorption lines of sunlight; and transient events such as the brief flash emission spectrum from the solar chromosphere during the onset of a total solar eclipse.
Broken symmetry
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Here is a dramatic way to model broken symmetry, a key concept in modern cosmology.
Vector Video
Authors: Taylor David P.
Published: April 2003

Vector addition is an important skill for introductory physics students to master. For years, I have used a fun example to introduce vector addition in my introductory physics classes based on one with which my high school physics teacher piqued my interest many years ago.
Remember properties of conic sections
Authors: Iona Mario
Published: April 2003

Many misleading statements could be avoided if authors remembered the general properties of conic sections. One should distinguish between the elliptic appearance in a perspective view and the actual ellipticity of the Earth’s orbit. Satellites spiraling downward in near-circular orbits gain kinetic energy when they lose potential energy. Since hyperbolas have two branches, alpha particle scattering does not give information about the sign of the nuclear charge. Space probes are often directed into the path of nearby planets in order to pick up some of the planets’ kinetic energy.
Understanding parabolic reflectors through paper folding
Authors: Chandler David
Published: April 2003

A simple paper-folding construction for a parabola is proposed. Besides providing a concrete, hands-on activity, the construction gives intuitive meaning to the role of the directrix and leads to a simple noncalculus proof of the reflection property of the parabola. The paper-folding technique can be generalized to ellipses and hyperbolas, and leads to their reflection properties as well.
Conservation of angular momentum apparatus using magnetic bearings
Authors: Pechan Michael J. , O’Brien Alexandra , Burgei Wesley A.
Published: April 2003

An apparatus using magnetic bearings, derived from a common magnetic levitation toy, has been developed to investigate conservation of angular momentum. The device is rugged, easy to use, and simple to set up. Using this device and data acquisition system using a photogate, angular momentum conservation is verified to within a few percent.
“Peeps,” cream, heads, and food coloring in a vacuum jar
Authors: DePino Andrew
Published: April 2003

This note describes some methods of adding interest to the standard vacuum jar demonstrations. Marshmallow animals, shaving cream, doll heads, and food coloring add some spark to these demos. These new twists have been well received by the students.
Analysis of Slinky levitation
Authors: Graham Mark
Published: April 2003

The lower end of a falling weak spring will appear motionless for one-quarter period upon being released. This phenomenon is illustrated by holding a Slinky™ and dropping it.
Playing around with achromatic pairs
Authors: Jordan R. G.
Published: April 2003

While trying to come up with some “different” questions about lenses that have some connection with students’ everyday experiences, I started thinking about chromatic aberration and the method of correction using achromatic pairs of lenses. Although most current introductory physics textbooks provide few (if any) quantitative details on achromatic lenses, I show that the analysis is not only very straightforward, but it can help reinforce understanding of some of the essential concepts appropriate to lenses and can offer plenty of opportunity for variety. Consequently, instructors searching for alternative areas to explore and challenge their students may wish to pose questions, set as!!signments or research papers, etc., in this general area and feel confident that they fall well within the capabilities of most students.
Bringing extra-solar planets into the introductory physics classroom
Authors: Prather Edward E. , Slater Timothy F.
Published: April 2003

This paper describes a teaching activity for students using Doppler shifts of starlight to detect extra-solar planets.
Confusion
Authors: Mamola Karl
Published: April 2003

Last September we published a thoughtfully written In My Opinion piece about student difficulties that may arise from using different letter abbreviations for the same physical quantity, for example, U and PE for potential energy.
The shape of lamp shade shadows
Authors: Horst Kenneth E.
Published: April 2003

Lamp shade shadows are hyperbolic in shape. Excel software is used to plot measured coordinates of the shadow and to plot calculated curves based on shade geometry.
Motional EMF demonstration experiment
Authors: Kingman Robert , Popescu Sabin
Published: April 2003

A simple quantitative motional emf experiment. The induced voltage is recorded in this computer-based experiment as a coil is moved through the field of a permanent magnet. Results compare closely with predicted values.
Waves on a lead-filled hose
Authors: Southworth Tom
Published: April 2003

The construction and presentation of a lead-filled rubber hose is described. The purpose of the demonstration is to clarify concepts relating sound quality, interference, standing waves, and harmonic series.
Homemade ice spike
Authors: Trout K. P.
Published: April 2003

A picture is offered of a rare physical phenomenon most commonly referred to as an “ice spike.”
Unbalanced
Authors: van den Berg Ed
Published: April 2003

These two photos (one of a truck tipping back and one of a donkey cart tipping back) have something in common. The pictures could be used to encourage classroom discussion in small groups using this list of questions.
Transmission through crossed polaroid filters
Authors: Easton Don
Published: April 2003

A modification to a digital lux meter is described. A Malus’ law experiment performed with the meter gives unexpected results. The modified meter is used to show that the unexpected findings result from the inability of Polaroid filters to polarize radiation that is outside the range of visible light. With the use of a diffraction grating and the modified meter crossed Polaroids are shown to transmit infrared radiation.
Reflections
Authors: Mamola Karl
Published: April 2003

With this, our ninth issue, the first academic year under the new editorship of The Physics Teacher has been completed. Now we look forward to the next three months, during which TPT is not published, as a time to catch our collective breath, make some headway on our backlog of work, and prepare for next year. This seems an appropriate time to reflect on what we’ve done, where we are, and where we hope to go from here.
The imagination maze
Authors: Welty Scott , Rylander Jeff
Published: April 2003

Working off of a $10,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grant, 80 physics students at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois, spent the 1999–2000 school year building a gaint pool ball maze in the school’s stairwell. The maze sits in a 10 × 11 × 1 ft recess in the wall. It features an 11-ft screwlift operated by a crank accessible to the passing student to raise the balls to the top where they then meander down four possible trails of copper tubing, performing a variety of physics tricks along the way. The project was a great lesson in organization, engineering, building, quality control, and of course, the laws of physics. The maze is now the “property” of all future AP physics classes whose job it will be to fine-tune, repair, replace, and generally take care of the maze.
Dance of the hot dogs
Authors: Dindorf Wojciech
Published: April 2003

When two hot dogs are cooked in water, they undergo simultaneous 180° rotation about their long axis. Why do they turn? Why do they change orientation several times? Why do they do it at the same time?
Induction or hysteresis: No longer a burning issue
Authors: Gavrin A.
Published: April 2003

This note discusses the physics of induction cooktops. In particular, it addresses the role of magnetic domains in the Joule heating of ferromagnetic materials. As a result, it draws attention to the central role Joule heating plays in magnetic hysteresis losses.
An extraordinary demonstration of Newton's third law
Authors: Gettrust Eric
Published: April 2003

One of the more difficult-to-believe consequences of Newton’s third law is the equality in magnitude of an object’s weight with the magnitude of the third-law pair of its weight (the upward gravitational force of the object on the planet). This note describes a demonstration of this concept.
“Floating” styrofoam spheres
Authors: Dail Steve
Published: April 2003

This trick in electrostatics uses small Sytrofoam spheres and a small clear plastic ziplock sandwich baggie.
Hands-on resonance-enhanced photoacoustic detection
Authors: Euler Manfred
Published: April 2003

The design of an improved photoacoustic converter cell using kitchen equipment is described. It operates by changing manually the Helmholtz resonance frequency of bottles by adjusting the distance between the bottleneck and the outer ear. The experiment helps to gain insights in ear performance, in photoacoustic detection methods, in resonance phenomena and their role for detecting small periodic signals in the presence of noise.
Geometrical optics and visual perception
Authors: Salinas Julia , Sandoval José
Published: April 2003

Many students do not link optics with images perceived in labs and everyday life. As a direct consequence, they don’t understand the physical behavior of the optical systems involved. We present three problematic situations useful to promote better geometrical optics learning.
Measuring the speed of sound — Variation on a familiar theme
Authors: Martin Brian E.
Published: April 2003

This note presents a new twist on using resonance measurements to determine the speed of sound through common gases.
Enlivening introductory physics with SETI
Authors: Hobson Art
Published: April 2003

This article outlines teaching materials for one to three SETI lectures for nonscientists. The lectures’ goals are to (1) present SETI, (2) illustrate scientific methodology, (3) apply the principles of energy, electrodynamics, and special relativity, and (4) consider a social implication known as “Fermi’s question.”
“Failure is impossible”
Authors: Mamola Karl
Published: April 2003

The words “Come stand among great women” beckoned to me. They were printed on the National Women’s Hall of Fame pamphlet I was reading as I traveled toward Rochester, N.Y., in July for the AAPT National Meeting.
So you thought a glass thermometer measured temperature
Authors: Gash Philip
Published: April 2003

A thermometer is an active measuring device; its presence influences a sample’s initial temperature. The questions of interest here are what physical quantities influence the difference between the sample’s initial temperature and the thermometer’s equilibrium temperature, and how large a sample is needed to minimize the difference, so the simple assumption that the thermometer temperature is the initial sample temperature is valid.
A different viewpoint on Doppler-effect calculations
Authors: Hoyt Daniel
Published: April 2003

Most users of the Doppler-effect equations use conventions to determine the sign of terms in the equation. It is possible to avoid these conventions by a common-sense analysis that also reteaches the Doppler basics each time the equations are used. Suggestions for equation use and interesting scenarios show just how powerful Doppler equations can be when the sign conventions are dispensed with.
Simulated secular equilibrium
Authors: Greenslade Thomas B.
Published: April 2003

The water-column model of radioactive decay discussed by Smithson and Pinkston is modified for use as a demonstration of the stable series of radioactive decays in what is known as secular equilibrium.
Classroom climate
Authors: Blanton Patricia
Published: April 2003

It is a difficult task for a beginning teacher to establish a classroom climate conducive to learning. No education course can fully prepare you for what happens when you go into that classroom alone and are faced with establishing a situation where learning can occur. Here are four suggestions to help you cope.
The twirled ring
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

As all physicists know, when an ice skater spins with outstretched arms then quickly lowers her arms, her rotation speed increases enormously. This effect can be neatly demonstrated with a finger ring and a piece of string.
Using nega'tor springs as a source of constant force
Authors: Reich G. R. , Bradshaw Adam
Published: April 2003

In recent years there has been interest in having students experiment with nongravitational sources of constant acceleration.We introduce the use of constant force Neg’ator spring motors for this purpose.
New versions of the rolling double cone
Authors: Balta Nuri
Published: April 2003

Rolling a double cone upward is interesting but oscillating it on a track having an elevated centre is fascinating. You can design three different arrangements of a pair of cones each requiring different tracks to roll up and oscillate on a track of elevated centre.
Automating Microwave Optics Experiments
Authors: Gallis Michael R.
Published: April 2003

An existing stand-alone microwave diffraction apparatus is adapted to student computer interface equipment using nonspecialized sensors. The new configuration allows students to take data with greater resolution in significantly less time than the traditional approach to the microwave diffraction experiment. Students’ tedium is reduced and the possibility of examining diffraction phenomena in greater detail within the limitations of a lab period is enhanced.
Nineteenth-Century Measurements of the Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
Authors: Greenslade Thomas B.
Published: April 2003

Today the measurement of the mechanical equivalent of heat is a laboratory exercise in which the student tries to come close to the accepted value. How different was the attitude of the 19th-century physicists and engineers, for which the value was a key link between mechanics and thermodynamics, two seemingly separate domains of physics. This article discusses some of the pioneering experiments, translating them into modern nomenclature and units.
Destructive Interference with a Circular Saw Blade
Authors: Brody Burt
Published: April 2003

In a demonstration that I present to my students, I play a 5-kHz tone through a pair of 5-in speakers that are about 3 ft apart on the lecture bench. A student crouching sideways near the middle and in front of the speakers, slowly rocking back and forth, will hear the interference pattern in space.
Obtaining the length and width of a rotating box with a motion detector
Authors: Lough Tom , Gibson David
Published: April 2003

A motion detector is faced toward a rectangular box on a rotating horizontal turntable at an arbitrary distance. The form of the resulting data is anticipated and compared with actual results. The question of determining the length and width of the box solely from the motion detector output is addressed.
Wave propagation
Authors: Bauman Robert P.
Published: April 2003

Before relativity and quantum theory, a classical model of wave propagation was developed by Huygens, Fresnel, Maxwell, and Kirchhoff that provides insight into why propagation is linear and why the refractive index is usually, but not always, greater than 1. The model also explains other phase shifts that can be experimentally verified.
Choosing between teaching helioseismology and phases of the moon
Authors: Sadler Philip M.
Published: April 2003

In my opinion, the last two decades of cognitive research can help to resolve the debate between Pasachoff and Caton in The Physics Teacher over what and how to teach physics.
AP Physics Workshop at Carleton College
Authors: Koser Eric , Christensen Nelson
Published: April 2003

Carleton College annually hosts a weeklong Advanced Placement Physics workshop. Twelve high school physics teachers attended the 2001 session. This paper presents a summary of the workshop events and discussion subjects.
An Overview of Physics Instruction in Zimbabwe
Authors: Kufazvinei C. , Mukaro R. , Gasseller M.
Published: April 2003

This note focuses on the way science, and particularly physics, is taught in Zimbabwe.
Demonstration of Light-Wave Communication for High School Physics
Authors: Niculescu Adam
Published: April 2003

New general education requirements adopted by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1995 led to the development of several new courses meant to increase student science literacy and also enable students to relate their newly acquired knowledge to everyday life. Wonders of Technology is one such laboratory-based course in conceptual physics for nonscience majors. We describe how these concepts were employed in creating a module on electricity and magnetism for the course Learning Science Through Technology, for middle and high school teachers.
The Gravity-Defying Pendulum
Authors: Moloney Michael J.
Published: April 2003

A pendulum whose base is driven vertically at a high enough frequency can be stable in its inverted position, apparently defying gravity. Two examples of ‘gravity-defying' pendula are given, both easy to build. A spreadsheet numerical integration provides a nice way to verify the gravity-defying behavior. A theoretical analysis is also given. This agrees with both experimental results and spreadsheet modeling.
The Giants: Great Physicists: The Life and Times of Leading Physicists from Galileo to Hawking, by William H. Cropper
Authors: O’Connell James
Published: April 2003

The book “Great Physicists: The Life and Times of Leading Physicists from Galileo to Hawking,” by William H. Cropper, Oxford University Press, 2001, is reviewed
Getting Pumped Up on the Ideal Gas Law
Authors: Houser Jolene , Johnson Doug , Siegel Peter
Published: April 2003

An experiment is described in which the pressure P and the number of moles n of a gas are varied. Using common materials, the student can verify that P is proportional to n when the volume and temperature are held constant.
The Proof Is in the Putting
Authors: Perry Scott K.
Published: April 2003

In an attempt to better understand how to “read the break” on a putt, my students and I conducted a series of experiments with a spring-loaded putting machine that applies an impulse to the equator of a golf ball in roughly the same manner as a conventional putter. In this note, experimental data are compared with a simple theory of putting that excludes such things as: irregularities in the putting surface (e.g., spike marks), complex contours, dew on the grass, wind resistance, and possible ball hopping (i.e., momentarily losing contact with the green).
Diffraction Patterns Using a Constant-Velocity Cart
Authors: DePino Andrew
Published: April 2003

This note describes an experiment designed to plot the diffraction patterns obtained using the Cornell slitfilm demonstrator. The technique employs a helium–neon laser and a light sensor to obtain the data.
Lessons from the Committee of Ten
Authors: Sheppard Keith , Robbins Dennis M.
Published: April 2003

The historical development of high school physics education is analyzed beginning with the report of the Committee of Ten. The impact of this report on science sequencing, enrollment, curricular time, teaching methodology and status as an academic subject are discussed.
Changing the Profile of the Middle School: Transforming Middle School Science Education, by Paul DeHart Hurd
Authors: Hubisz John L.
Published: April 2003

Here is a book review of Transforming Middle School Science Education by Paul DeHart Hurd, Teachers College Press, 2000.
A Nomograph for Resistors in Parallel
Authors: Greenslade Thomas B.
Published: April 2003

The author has a large collection of 19th century textbooks, and found a quotation in one of them concerning a construction for finding the equivalent resistance of two resistors in parallel. This note discusses the equations.
How Good Is the Approximation “Path Difference ≈ d sin θ”?
Authors: Poon Dick C. H.
Published: April 2003

In standard textbook treatment the formula “path difference < d u” for the double-source interference pattern is justified for large distances only. Yet ripple tank patterns show that nodal lines become fairly straight not far from the sources. An analysis of the approximation is provided for nonasymptotic distances.
Lots of Info: The Handy Physics Answer Book, by P. Erik Gundersen
Authors: Claus Albert C.
Published: April 2003

This is a book review of The Handy Physics Answer Book, by P. Erik Gundersen, Visible Ink Press, Canton, Mich., 1999
The tabletops illusion
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

This is one of the most amazing of all optical illusions involving the comparison of shapes.
Three tennis balls
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Without making any measurements, can you prove that the height of a can of tennis balls is less than the circumference of a ball?
Catch the dice
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Here is a physics trick involving tossing dice and catching them in a glass.
Two drop tasks
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Here are two physics tricks involving a matchbox and a paper match.
A slinky problem
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

If you hold one end of a SlinkyTM, letting it hang down and then dop it, what happens? Students are not likely to come up with the answer and will be surprised by a demonstration.
A pinhole paradox
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

This trick uses only a toilet-paper tube, paper, and rubber bands to demonstrate a curiosity of the eye!
Dancing to the music
Authors: Valadares Eduardo C. , Anconi Cleber P. A.
Published: April 2003

Here is a very simple experiment that demonstrates resonance. It requires only two rubber bands of different sizes, a small piece of paper, and a plastic box. This experiment helps students visualize resonance and can be exploited to explain radio and TV tuning by means of a simple mechanical analogy.
Shuffled pages
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Take two books of about the same size and number of pages and place them on a table with their front edges touching. Shuffle the pages together. Then challenge someone to grasp the spines of the books and pull the books apart. It can’t be done!
Suspended bottle
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Fill a Coke bottle with uncooked rice. Plunge a pencil, chopstick, or any similar rod straight down into the rice, and you’ll find that when you lift the pencil, the bottle goes with it!
Estimating height
Authors: Gardner Martin
Published: April 2003

Spread a dozen pennies on a table and place a dime beside them. How many pennies must you stack in a column to reach a height that exceeds the dime’s diameter?
Measuring the Damping Constant for Underdamped Harmonic Motion
Authors: LoPresto Michael C. , Holody Paul R.
Published: April 2003

The now widespread use of microcomputers in introductory physics laboratories allows for an addendum to the traditional mass-spring-system experiment that usually culminates with the determination of the spring constant k. A sonic-motion detector can be used to create plots of position, velocity, and acceleration as functions of time and even position versus velocity. Students can then be asked to compare these plots and observe the relationships between the variables. This, however, is only the beginning. The use of features of the data-collection software allows for further and even more informative analysis.
A Last Chance for Getting It Right: Addressing Alternative Conceptions in the Physical Sciences
Authors: Gonzalez-Espada Wilson J.
Published: April 2003

The fact that, despite 12 years of education, even our top college students have partially or completely mistaken ideas about science in general, and physical science in particular, is disturbing but to a certain extent expected. Students have received all sorts of scientific, pseudoscientific, and non-scientific information through their daily experiences, their own environment explorations, their social interactions, media, and formal instruction. As a consequence of their constant constructing, deconstructing, processing, and organizing the received information, college students will have ideas that are not currently supported by the scientific community.
Meter Resistance: Don't Forget It!
Authors: Priest Joseph
Published: April 2003

When measuring potential difference or current with an analog meter employing a moving-coil galvanometer, the user has to be sensitive to circuit changes produced by the internal resistance of the meter. Fortunately, analog meters have been largely replaced with digital instruments that ordinarily have negligible effect on the measurements. Nevertheless, there are situations where a digital meter can seriously affect the circuit. We report here such a situation that was embarrassing initially but proved to be instructional in the end.
Induced Current Measurement of Rod Vibrations
Authors: Sawicki Charles A.
Published: April 2003

The longitudinal1 normal modes of vibration of rods are similar to the modes seen in pipes open at both ends. A maximum of particle displacement exists at both ends and an integral number (n) of half wavelengths fit into the rod length. The frequencies fn of the normal modes is given by Eq. (1), where L is the rod length and V is the wave velocity: fn = nV2L. Many methods have been used to measure the velocity of these waves. The Kundt's tube method commonly used in student labs will not be discussed here. A simpler related method has been described by Nicklin.2 Kluk3 measured velocities in a wide range of materials using a frequency counter and microphone to study sounds produced by impacts. Several earlier methods4,5 used phonograph cartridges complete with needles to detect vibrations in excited rods. A recent interesting experiment6 used wave-induced changes in magnetization produced in an iron rod by striking one end. The travel time, measured as the impulsive wave reflects back and forth, gave the wave velocity for the iron rod. In the method described here, a small magnet is attached to the rod with epoxy, and vibrations are detected using the current induced in a few loops of wire. The experiment is simple and yields very accurate velocity values.
A Wind Shield for the PASCO Coulomb Apparatus
Authors: Anderson Peter , Graf Erlend H.
Published: April 2003

The PASCO Coulomb's law apparatus has a very sensitive torsion balance on which a sphere capable of holding a static charge is suspended. Rapid motion in the vicinity of the balance, breathing directly on the sphere, or air currents from ventilation will all move the sphere around significantly. This motion makes it very difficult to obtain meaningful data. In fact, the sphere moves so much under the influence of the ventilation in our lab that it was not possible to obtain repetitive results.
The 14th International Young Physicists Tournament
Authors: Franklin Don , Edge Ron
Published: April 2003

The first U.S. team was sent to the International Young Physicists Tournament in May of 1999. Now, for a second time, the United States fielded a team to participate in the IYPT, held in Espoo, Finland, in May 2001. This tournament differs from the International Physics Olympiad because the team members work together, leading to a presentation, whereas the Olympiad is strictly an examination. The IYPT questions have a reseach flavor, e.g., “When drying a starch solution, you will see cracks forming. Investigate and explain this phenomenon.”
Common Concerns About the Force Concept Inventory
Authors: Henderson Charles
Published: April 2003

The Physics Education Research Group at the University of Minnesota routinely administers the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) to large numbers of introductory calculus-based physics students. This paper addressed three common concerns about the FCI based on data gathered from 2178 students.
Meet your new president: Chris Chiaverina
Authors: Rossing Thomas D.
Published: April 2003

Thomas Rossing introduces the 2002 AAPT President, Chris Chiaverina of New Trier High School.
It's, Like, Relative Motion at the Mall
Authors: Robinett R. W.
Published: April 2003

Almost all introductory textbooks, both algebra- and calculus-based, include sections on relative motion and relative velocity, in both one and two dimensions. The most popular examples in discussions of 2-D relative velocity in such texts seem to be the motion of airplanes/blimps flying in the presence of wind or the conceptually identical cases of boats/rafts piloted across rivers/streams, including the effects of currents. These and similar cases are rather removed from the everyday experience of some students, and the use of simple lecture demonstrations to illustrate these concepts can be quite useful. For example, the motion of a simple toy “wind-up” car moving at constant speed across a horizontal tabletop, with a plastic sheet underneath providing the “moving frame of reference,” can illustrate many aspects of such problems, including the need to “point” the plane/boat in an appropriate direction, just as illustrated in many textbook figures. On the other hand, it is also useful if students can directly experience concepts for themselves, especially in a kinesthetic manner, but there are seemingly far fewer human-sized lecture demonstrations on this topic. In this paper, we will point out one such example which might well be just a short drive away.
The Gauss Rifle and Magnetic Energy
Authors: Rabchuk James A.
Published: April 2003

With the advent of cheap and easy-to-come-by NdFeB magnets, it has become possible to design a number of simple but effective demonstrations of magnetic force. One such demonstration, dubbed the “gauss rifle,” is a type of linear magnetic accelerator. It is relatively easy to assemble and involves a rapid and dramatic increase in kinetic energy of the steel ball bearings used in the demonstration. This makes the demonstration a good attention getter, setting the stage for a discussion of a number of physics topics, including conservation of energy, magnetic energy, and magnetic force. It also has the potential for becoming a laboratory experiment since the materials are relatively cheap, there is some challenge in the arrangement of the magnets, and the performance of the accelerator can be characterized by measuring the initial and final velocities of the bearings. Finally, by using freely available finite element magnetics software, it is even possible to make predictions of the final velocity for different configurations of the magnets.
The Large-Angle Pendulum Period
Authors: Millet L. Edward
Published: April 2003

The recent article by Kidd and Fogg1 should result in the general inclusion of the formula T = 2πℓg cos(θm2) into new editions of physics textbooks, replacing the standard formula T = 2πℓg. T is the period of oscillations for a simple pendulum of length ℓ, g is the acceleration caused by gravity, and θm is the maximum angle of oscillation. In addition, the standard approximation sin θ ≈ θ should be improved to sin θ ≈ θ cos(θm2) in textbooks as well. Substitution of Eq. (4) for Eq. (3) in the usual small-angle derivation leads directly to Eq. (1).
Duff's Acceleration Apparatus
Authors: Greenslade Thomas B.
Published: April 2003

Some years ago I wrote a note about Packard's apparatus1 to honor an early physics teacher who designed apparatus. In this note I honor Dr. A. Wilmer Duff of Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Mass., for his development of a simple and inexpensive method of studying uniformly accelerated motion.
How Fast Is Your Finger? An Introduction to Photogate Use
Authors: Gardner John
Published: April 2003

The arrival of a full set of photogate timers1 to our high school classroom has enabled a rewarding variety of mechanics experiments. The initial use of photogates, however, presents a vocabulary challenge to students. What do “gate mode” and “pulse mode” mean? I've devised a simple motivating experiment appropriate to early mechanics study to demonstrate these terms. The purpose of the experiment is to find the speed of a flicking finger. Just how fast can a finger be flicked (wrist snap allowed)? Can a fingertip momentarily move as fast as a walker at 1 or 2 m/s? How about a sprinter at 8 m/s? Or perhaps a fastball at 40 m/s? Or greater? By the end of the experiment, students know, and they've used both gate mode and pulse mode to find the answer.
An Algebarometer
Authors: Dieffenbach Robert M.
Published: April 2003

Air pressure being in the neighborhood of 1033 gm/cm2 supports a column of mercury having height 76 cm, more or less, because mercury “weighs” 13.5951 gm/cm3 [(76 cm) (13.5951 gm/cm3) = 1033 gm/cm2]. By contrast, since water weighs only 1gm/cm3, air pressure would support a column of water 13.6 times as high, or over 10 m. Making a barometer using a standing column of water would be a tall order, so to speak, although at least one enterprising physics teacher did make one.1 Using algebra, however, you can make a desktop water barometer.
Physics to Go
Authors: McAlexander Aaron
Published: April 2003

“Physics to Go” is basically a solution in search of a problem. Consisting of 18 physics exercises that were collected for use in an online conceptual physics course, “Physics to Go” originated as a possible solution to the problem of how to conduct the laboratory experience for students who were taking conceptual physics through some form of distance learning. (It would appear that much of the advantage of taking a course through distance-learning methods is negated if students must come to the central campus to perform their laboratory exercises.) Physics to Go exercises are appropriate for use in introductory physics courses taught by distance learning, home schooling, and for providing make-up labs. The total cost of the apparatus is about $40 and it will all fit in a bread box.