Discusses the physical principles underlying the design of a small scale suspension bridge, including its types and strength calculations. Included are the working equation and two formulas for determining the load per unit length. (CC)

Describes typical electrostatic toys which may be used to show students phenomena associated with sparks, sudden drops in potential, induction, and forces between bodies of like and opposite charges. Many of these demonstrations are suitable for student projects. (Author/JN)

Reports experiences during a two-year period in introducing the computer to the laboratory and students to the computer as a laboratory instrument. Describes a working philosophy, data acquisition system, and experiments. Summarizes the laboratory procedures of nine experiments, covering mechanics, heat, electromagnetism, and optics. (YP)

Describes the nineteenth century wave machines which can be found in the Smithsonian Institution, at Kenyon, and other colleges. Included is information about the apparatus, queries, and descriptions of different wave machines and how they work. Information included may inspire the reader with similar apparatus to repair it and use it again.…

Describes experiments which could be performed on an 1860 rotating table apparatus. (CP)

Discusses physics of bicycles, presenting a model of the forces acting on the bicycle and its rider. Topics considered include maximum speed coasting down a hill, maximum speed on the level, and maximum speed up a hill. This material is suitable for homework problems, independent study, or regular class work. (JN)

Discusses and provides an example of reflectivity approximation to determine whether reflection will occur. Provides a method to show thin-film interference on a projection screen. Also applies the reflectivity concepts to electromagnetic wave systems. (MVL)

Discusses the production of hundreds of pinhole images of a recent eclipse of the sun through the leaf canopy. Provides photograph of the images. (MVL)

Discusses a series of experiments performed by Thomas Hope in 1805 which show the temperature at which water has its maximum density. Early data cast into a modern form as well as guidelines and recent data collected from the author provide background for duplicating Hope's experiments in the classroom. (JN)

Discusses how the caustic by reflection is formed. Indicates that the phenomenon can be demonstrated by showing the reflection of the light from a distant point source from the inner curve of a polished hoop of metal (such as a wedding ring). (JN)

An attention-grabbing center-of-mass demonstration uses the map of a state mounted on a sheet of heavy cardboard and cut out along the boundaries. The two-dimensional object is hung from a hole punched into a city near the edge, and a string with a pendulum bob attached to it passes through the center of mass. The process is repeated with a…

Analyzes three secondary and college physics texts of the 19th century and compares them to current physics texts. (LS)