Argues that the correct use of positive and negative signs in textbooks is often ignored and that this misuse might be because the authors are unaware of some basic rules. (DDR)

Explores the issue of physics laboratory work for engineering students and discusses the design, implementation, and evaluation of a laboratory program developed for first year engineering students. (DDR)

Describes a procedure developed by students that measures the mass concentration of particles in a polluted urban atmosphere. Uses a portable fan and filters of various materials. Compares students' data with official data. (DDR)

Contends that storytelling is a device which physics teachers can add to their repertoire for motivating and encouraging students. Presents an example of effective storytelling using the story of the COBE discovery of ripples in cosmic background radiation. (Author/WRM)

Describes tried and tested methods for introducing vectors and addressing the topics of centripetal acceleration and vector and scalar products to secondary physics students. (Author/WRM)

Argues that the only reason to ask students to plot graphs manually should be to have them learn the skill of plotting graphs manually. For data-analysis purposes, the use of computer-generated graphs has several advantages and few disadvantages over manual plotting. (Author/WRM)

Ignoring the interpretive problems of temperature measurement deprives students of a beneficial, positive educational experience. Suggests experimenting with different thermometers including a copper resistance thermometer, a thermistor, a thermocouple, and a constant-volume air thermometer. Provides guidance for the classroom discussion of…

Describes the use of teaching studios to encourage discussion of problems and presentation of solutions to the class. Argues that this is an effective way to have students teach other students. Concludes that teaching studios provide many benefits and produce positive responses from participants. (DDR)

Illustrates how the details of a real-life traffic accident may be analyzed with simple physics to prove that evidence can be enough to convict a motorist of a serious offense. (DDR)

Outlines a course based on a series of experiments in which students are introduced to the behavior of electrical components without any references to Ohm's law. Argues that this approach has advantages over the traditional presentation. (DDR)

Describes a simple circuit based on an inexpensive quad operational amplifier that permits a direct-reading temperature instrument to be constructed using silicon diodes. Encourages the use of this equipment in introductory thermal experiments. (DDR)

Explores how the apparent loss of energy in inelastic collisions may be understood by considering a simple model of two rigid balls connected by a spring. Includes a numerical simulation of this and an extension to include Newton's Cradle. (DDR)

Suggests the use of an analogy to resolve the puzzle of the lost energy when two capacitors are joined together. Uses the concept of water flowing between two tanks. (DDR)

Discusses the Internet and how it works, beginning with its origins in the U.S. military and covering such issues as clients and servers, upload and download, and the World Wide Web. (Author/PVD)

A physics professor ponders the advantages and possibilities of the Internet in graduate education and shares his own experiences delivering graduate courses and individual lectures online. Discusses accreditation and costing between institutions, the nature and extent of copyright problems, and the most useful forms of student interaction. (PVD)