Most textbooks and lecturers present Michaelis-Menten kinetics using the equation v = V[subscript max][S]/(K[subscript m] + [S]). There are advantages to presenting this relationship in a slightly different form, namely v = V[subscript max]/{1 + (K[subscript m]/[S])}. We articulate advantages for single-substrate reactions and extend the formalism…

Textured grip socks are worn by soccer players worldwide to decrease foot movement within the shoe and improve athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of textured grip socks on performance and in-shoe plantar kinetics during soccer-specific tasks. Eleven collegiate soccer players (4 male, 7 female)…

Stereoselective reduction of ketones to alcohols using baker's yeast is a classic experiment in the undergraduate laboratory. Here we illustrate the reduction of racemic ethyl 2-fluoro-3-oxobutanoate to the corresponding alcohol using a set of four commercially available ketoreductases (KREDs). The reaction sets two stereocenters with four…

Friction is one of the most important forces studied in classical mechanics, and still is the subject of pedagogical literature. In a small series of problems stated below, we consider a particle sliding down a curve under the actions of gravity and kinetic friction. Unlike many of the referenced sources, we neglect the centripetal force arising…

Problem solving in chemical kinetics poses substantial challenges for university students since it often involves significant use of mathematics as a tool and language, with challenging translations and transitions between chemical phenomena and mathematical representations. In this paper, we present key findings from a study investigating…

Energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and electrolyzers have been envisaged as possible solutions for cutting down the continuous accumulation of greenhouse gases resulting from the combustion of fossil fuel. The bottleneck reaction for these devices is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurring at the cathode. The…

Intact graphic execution ability is considered an important gateway to one's academic success. It is often reported that the graphic execution ability of neurotypical children and those having autism, i.e., children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is differentiated. Although insightful, these reports had been mostly for text handwriting task…

This article aims to simplify and facilitate the process of practical teaching of enzyme kinetics by utilizing minimal teaching laboratory requirements. Simultaneously, it ensures that students comprehend the enzyme kinetics experiment effectively. The focus is on teaching students how to estimate the maximum velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis constant…

"k[subscript cat]/K[subscript M]" is a fundamental kinetic parameter as important as "k[subscript cat]" in enzyme kinetics. Although the parameter provides critical information on how the enzyme lowers the energy barriers along the reaction pathway for catalysis, "k[subscript cat]/K[subscript M]" is frequently…

Teaching special relativity to lower-division students is challenging because results such as time dilation, length contraction, and frame dependence of simultaneity are counterintuitive. The literature is extensive, so only a brief list is given here, with articles divided roughly between discussions of general principles and calculations applied…

A rocket must carry the fuel it expels in order to accelerate its structure and payload. The rocket equation relates the change in speed to the fuel mass expelled. To launch a spacecraft into Earth orbit requires a multi-stage rocket, since otherwise the mass of fuel required would be prohibitive. While the details vary among historical and…

Scientific reasoning competencies enable students to engage in scientific inquiry through a wide range of methods, for example by asking questions, formulating hypotheses, and planning, carrying out, and evaluating experiments. Laboratories are particularly suitable to foster these competencies in higher education. In order to give lab educators…

Enzymes are nature's catalysts, mediating chemical processes in living systems. The study of enzyme function and mechanism includes defining the maximum catalytic rate and affinity for substrate/s (among other factors), referred to as enzyme kinetics. Enzyme kinetics is a staple of biochemistry curricula and other disciplines, from molecular and…

A loop-the-loop experiment usually involves a ball rolling around a vertical loop. A different version of the experiment is described where a nut was allowed to slide around a vertical loop. In both experiments there is a large decrease in kinetic energy when the ball or the nut first enters the loop.

A collision of one object with two or more objects is relatively complicated in general, but a simple example is provided by Newton's cradle since all the objects are identical and in line. In the present paper, an experiment is described where a heavy mallet collides head-on with two billiard balls. The two conservation equations indicate that…