Shows that, as a consequence of two feasible assumptions and when due attention is given to the definition of charge and the fields E and B, the lowest-order equations that these two fields must satisfy are Maxwell's equations. (Author/GA)

Describes an experiment in which Fresnel diffraction patterns were observed with a beam of slow neutrons of wavelength 4.33 Angstroms. (MLH)

Describes the wit, spirit, and inventiveness of Wolfgang Pauli and his relationship with physicists of his time. Reviews Pauli's contributions in the fields of relativity and quantum theory. (GS)

Shows how Maxwell's equations can be obtained by starting with a relatively simple pseudoscalar and scalar potential employing only the Lorentz transformation for a four vector (or pseudovector). (GA)

Describes an undergraduate experiment of research potential. The experiment cconsists of measuring the time of contact of a metal rod bouncing on a steel base as a function of the velocity of impact, length, diameter, and material of the rod. (GA)

Presents a ray-tracing procedure based on some ideas of Herzberger and the matrix approach to geometrical optics. This method, which can be implemented on a programmable pocket calculator, applies to any conic surface, including paraboloids, spheres, and planes. (Author/GA)

Examines the relationship between the molecular field theory of ferromagnetism and elementary catastrophe theory in order to provide an introduction to the ideas of catastrophe theory. (Author/GA)

A Hamiltonian for the time-dependent damped and forced harmonic oscillator is derived. A simple time-dependent linear canonical transformation transforms the Hamiltonian to one whose solution is readily obtained. The wave function for the corresponding quantum mechanical problem is given. (Author/GA)

Discusses the nature of Laplace transform techniques and explains an alternative to them: the Widder's real inversion. To illustrate the power of this new technique, it is applied to a difficult inversion: the problem of Landau damping. (GA)

Describes an experiment to demonstrate the influence of a magnetic field on the behavior of a single Langmuir probe. The experiment introduces the student to magnetically supported plasma and particle behavior in a magnetic field. (GA)

Explains how the spherical pendulum could be used to observe nonreentrant orbits, and shows, using theoretical analysis, that for small displacements the elliptical orbit will precess at a rate proportional to its area. (GA)

Describes an inexpensive double-beam laser photometry experiment to determine the molar heat of sublimation of I-2. The experiment employs common laboratory materials and components and gives results with a two percent to three percent accuracy. (Author/GA)

Presents an exact solution to the nonlinear Faraday's law problem of a rod sliding on frictionless rails with resistance. Compares the results with perturbation calculations based on the methods of Poisson and Pincare and of Kryloff and Bogoliuboff. (Author/GA)

Shows how the good-as-new postulate leads to the exponential function, which in turn leads to a complete probabilistic description of the decay of an aggregate of identical excited atoms. (Author/GA)

Shows how to extend Wigner distribution functions, and Weyl correspondence between quantum and classical variables, from the usual kind of canonically conjugate position and momentum operators to the case of an angle and angular momentum operator pair. (Author/GA)