This book offers a remarkable range of research that emphasises the need to analyse the shaping of curricula under historical, social and political variables. Teachers' life stories, the Cold War as a contextual element that framed curricular transformations in the US and Europe, and the study of trends in education policy at transnational level…

Describes an apparatus for demonstrating the second law of motion. Provides sample data and discusses the merits of this method over traditional methods of supplying a constant force. The method produces empirical best-fit lines which convincingly demonstrate that for a fixed mass, acceleration is proportional to force. (DDR)

Summarizes the conceptual development of the notion of force historically and suggests appropriate analogies, limiting case analyses, thought experiments, and imagistic representations that can be used in high school physics classrooms. (DDR)

British experience relating to the employment of university research reactors and subcritical assemblies in the education of nuclear scientists and technologists, in the training of reactor operators and for fundamental pure and applied research in this field is reviewed. The facilities available in a number of British universities and the uses…

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)

Describes an experiment that uses a bottle, a cork, and a wooden match to study students' explanations of what they observe to reveal misunderstandings about pressure and to produce some incorrect interpretations such as creation of a gradient of pressure. (DDR)

Very generally and briefly reflects a teacher's feelings and impressions of what it is like to teach physics in a secondary school. (PR)

A BASIC computer program was written for an experiment that measures the time of a fall of a ball-bearing dropped through a measured distance. However, the timing subroutine was written in machine language. The reason for using machine language, the machine language program, hardware used, and the experiment are discussed. (JN)

A college physics department has been operating a "computer games station" in a corridor, with unrestricted access. The design of this station and summary of programs used are described. Program focuses on acceleration, rotating vectors, Maxwell's demonstration, wave display, and Fourier synthesis. (JN)

Presents: (1) method for tuning sonometers with a VELA and sensing device; (2) computer simulation of two-dimensional gas diffusion; (3) inexpensive procedure for digitizing with better than 0.5mm precision (with program listing); and (4) a simple optical diffraction analogue apparatus for use with the laser. (DH)

Describes an advanced high school/college experiment that illustrates the mechanics describing the motion of a rolling ball. Includes procedures used, discussions of vectoral and mathematical (calculus) solutions to the investigation, and sample student results using the recommended materials. (JM)

Explores the language used by teachers to denote various forces and investigates possible misconceptions they might hold about force and motion. Results indicate that biology and chemistry specialists hold the most misconceptions. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

Describes the construction of an apparatus that can be used as a quick and easy model of the passage of a longitudinal wave in a steel or aluminum rod. Employs expandable steel springs. (DDR)

Eight alternative frameworks of students' conceptions of gravity are discussed. Data supporting these frameworks were obtained during 40-minute interviews dealing with force. (SK)