The goal of this work is to build a low cost pedagogical device able to improve the comprehension of weather phenomena for African students in particular and in general for students across the world. This experimental and didactic device can be seen as an easy teaching tool to measure meteorological and climatic data. This structure is called a…

We look at the problem of the minimum speed of projectiles in a constant gravitational field. In the absence of resistance, the problem may be studied in the frame of a high school curriculum. One needs only Newton's laws and a minimum amount of analytic geometry to compute the orbit, which turns out to be parabolic. Furthermore, in case the…

Simple procedures for teaching practical radioactivity are presented in a way that attracts students' attention and does not make them apprehensive about their safety. The radiation source is derived from the natural environment. It is based on the radioactivity of radon, a ubiquitous inert gas, and the adsorptive property of activated charcoal.…

Examines the traditional role of textbooks in physics teaching, looks at new trends in physics teaching, examines use of books in new courses, and describes the Danish physics project. (GS)

Presents suggested readings and reviews for both teacher and student. Gives reasons for including history, sociology, and philosophy in a physics curriculum. (GS)

Shows how simple ideas about the forces between atoms and molecules can be used to explain, at an elementary level, some of the bulk properties of matter. (Author/CP)

Proposes the use of problems of the everyday world to motivate students to master basic physical principles. Cites the example of conversion of solar energy by a photovoltaic cell as a source of topics in electricity and solid state physics. (CP)

Describes a theory concerning the formation of soap films which enables this technique to be applied to problems requiring the minimization of the surface area between fixed boundaries. (Author/CP)

Discusses topics such as streamlined flow, turbulent flow, velocity profiles, and drag reduction as background information for the consideration of the use of drag reducing agents. (GS)

Describes an introductory course that does not presuppose newtonian mechanics. Presents a course outline and discusses the treatment of five major topics including relativistic kinematics and the derivation of the Lorentz transformation. (GS)

Applies Newtonian mechanics in an analysis of how a swing is made to move. (GS)

Describes some of the difficulties that arise when a course is transferred from one teacher to another and relates some experiences in the transfer of a self paced physics course. (GS)