Discusses the historical background of the 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment to detect the earth's motion through the aether. (MLH)

Presents an application of the formulas of kinematics to the real driving situation, involving motion at constant speed and deceleration. Suggests the problem be used as an example in class, a homework assignment, or a test item. (CC)

Describes the characteristics and operational problems of optical waveguides, and concludes that the wide use of optical communications can be expected if difficulties in commercial production of components can be eliminated. (CC)

Consideration of the force of gravity in some simple accelerated systems. Ambiguity about the use of up'' and down'' arises in coordinate systems not at rest with respect to the surface of the earth. (DF)

Provides examples of several ways that humor may be used in the physics classroom. Included are the use of cartoons, puns, visual puns, unusual units of measurement, scientific errors which have amusing consequences, posters, and amusing problem sets. (CS)

Reviews the kinematics of plucked, hammered, and bowed strings, and suggests demonstrations including some that show how musical string vibrations can be related to one another. (MLH)

Describes how to construct a thermometer from a ballpoint pen; how to illustrate standing waves with pocket combs; and various physics demonstrations using oval panty hose containers. (MLH)

Discusses the origin of surface tension in terms of the basic molecular nature of liquids and the contractile property of surfaces. (MLH)

Describes a demonstration using a heated wire to illustrate the phase change from the body-centered cubic form of iron to the face-centered cubic form. (MLH)