Presents an augmentation of a classical electrochemical demonstration that addresses the learning styles of the students and teaches electrochemistry in a concrete manner. Enables each student to see each event clearly, repeatedly, or in stop-action mode and enables students to improve their own mental models by providing them with a visually…

Presents a demonstration that illustrates the dramatic changes that sulfur undergoes upon heating to 200 degrees centigrade and then cooling to room temperature. Supplements the demonstration of the rubberlike properties of catenasulfur made by rapid cooling of the sulfur melt in ice water. (JRH)

Presents a test that can measure nitrate nitrogen ions at about 0.1 mg/L using concentration. Uses inexpensive accessible materials and can be used by amateur environmentalists for monitoring water nitrate levels. (JRH)

Presents an experimental approach to illustrate that the thermodynamic properties of a system can be considered as the average of mechanical variables. Discusses the Knudsen effusion method to count the number of molecules, vapor pressure, the piezoelectric effect, the experimental setup, and sample experimental results. (JRH)

Presents an experiment designed to show students that the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation will fail when they use this particular one-half titration technique for acids with large pKa's. Involves determining the apparent pKa for such acids and using that to calculate the true pKa. (JRH)

Reflects on the history of the calculus reform movement and the development of course implementation projects, including use of technology in instruction. Highlights several themes permeating reform courses: reform calculus is more hands-on, students are expected to understand complex mathematical concepts in more connected ways, and new…

States that we are duly obligated to view student input from two perspectives: from what we see of their attitudes and from what they show us, frequently indirectly, of their learning. Describes student reactions to calculus reform, both positive and negative, and proposes better assessment measures that conjoin attitudinal and learning data. (PVD)

Describes the use of videotapes to introduce experiments in a first-year undergraduate physics laboratory and investigates the effects on students' attitudes and achievement. Concludes that students responded positively to the video introductions but student performance was not improved. Discusses other positive outcomes of the videos. Contains 12…

Presents a range of experiments in heat conduction suitable for upper-level undergraduate laboratories that make use of heat sensitive liquid crystal film to measure temperature contours. Includes experiments mathematically described by Laplace's equation, experiments theoretically described by Poisson's equation, and experiments that involve…

Describes a lecture demonstration apparatus for displaying free and forced oscillations of a mechanical system to a large class. Discusses the Blinking Diode Display and the Standing Wave description. Contains 20 references. (JRH)

Discusses the physics behind the synchronization of chaos. Describes an easy to build an electronic circuit which can be used to demonstrate chaos and the synchronization of chaos. Contains 19 references. (JRH)

Presents a demonstration that illustrates charge conservation. Involves enclosing both the Teflon and the fur in metal tubes and measuring the voltage. (JRH)

Describes an experiment in the teaching of introductory general physics at the college and university level that focuses on self-directed learning. Discusses the "Standard Model", premises of self-directed learning, classroom implementation, class work, laboratory work, out-of-class work, and assessment. Contains 34 references. (JRH)

Presents a demonstration designed to illustrate Faraday's, Ampere's, and Lenz's laws and to reinforce the concepts through the analysis of a two-loop magnetic circuit. Can be made dramatic and challenging for sophisticated students but is suitable for an introductory course in electricity and magnetism. (JRH)

Argues that writing about physics forces students to come to grips with the material and with what they do and do not understand. Describes the use of writing in an introductory course. Discusses benefits of a decentralized "writing across the curriculum" program. (JRH)