Presents ideas for motivating students to create an informative and interesting physics project while becoming actively involved in learning the associated physics concepts. Discusses the use of physics projects as an alternative to lecture and traditional tests, using creativity and original ideas, and benefits to the school and the community.…

Examines student teachers' understanding of the concept of force using a two-part written questionnaire. Findings indicate that there is a serious discrepancy between student teachers' understanding of force and the accepted scientific view. Contains 20 references. (JRH)

Describes an investigation with the primary purpose of allowing students to generate and interpret a pressure/volume diagram of a Stirling engine. Explains how the Stirling engine can be used to demonstrate the principles of operation of a refrigerator and a heat pump. (DDR)

Discusses the need for a student who is using computer-aided instruction to also study the actual learning process. Regardless of the superiority of the teaching materials, the restructuring of previously existing knowledge structures in the learner is difficult. Computer-aided instruction should be aimed at helping with this restructuring.…

The interrelationship between the various forms of the Planck radiation equation is discussed. A differential equation that gives intensity or energy density of radiation per unit wavelength or per unit frequency is emphasized. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law and the change in the glow of a hot body with temperature are also discussed. (KR)

Explains the physics behind some of the apparently puzzling aspects of the motion of a person riding a snake-board (a skateboard with independently pivoted axles). (Author/WRM)

Presents the results of a comparative study of two groups of learners. Explores whether their feelings about a potentially emotive topic--radioactivity--influence their approach to learning. (Author/CCM)

Selection is the key to learning from the huge amount of information on the Internet. Describes how teachers can use a school Intranet or website to organize resources and direct students to the best interactive and educationally appropriate pages. (Author/MM)

A new website from the Institute of Physics, physics.org, will now provide answers to many questions about physics. Developers describe the design and purpose of the site and look forward to forthcoming enhancements. (Author/MM)

The persistence of students' misconceptions about motion illustrates the enormous difficulty that teachers face in their attempts to overcome these with traditional physics instruction. An understanding of students' ideas about motion and ways to incorporate them into successful instructional approaches can be obtained from an analysis of…

A new type of ammeter (PikoPikoII) has been developed which indicates the measured current by the movement of a spot of light and the voltage by the colour of the spot. Since this tool can make students feel as if they are observing a visual image of electricity, it is easy to prepare schematic explanations on electric circuits that match the…

Probably the most direct observation of the Earth's curvature is how objects appear from over the horizon when we approach them and disappear as we get further away from them. Similarly, the portion of a high object (a building or a mountain) that is visible depends on the height of the site where the observation is made. Based upon these very…

Reprints four lectures which were presented in the plenary session on "New science and old cultures" at the international conference on physics education at Edinburgh, Scotland, July 29 - August 6, 1975. In particular, the relationship between science education and the culture of underdeveloped nations is discussed. (CP)

Describes children's reactions to chance and probability in a variety of experimental situations, using four different experiments from Piaget's work, to give a clearer picture of how children approach these ideas. (GA)