Describes a laboratory activity which provides practical experience in wiring an electrical circuit with line voltage and everyday components. Students use wooden frames, bulbs, wire, fuses, and switches to test their wiring skills. (DH)

Describes use of brass electrodes (replacing conductive ink and push pins) in the field-mapping experiment. Also describes use of birch plywood for building a circuit board and a demonstration in which a resemblance of the Cheshire Cat is made to appear and reappear. (JN)

Discusses when alternating and magnetic fields are independent. Provides examples of experiments involving mains hum and the detection of induced signals. Describes electric circuits and oscilloscope displays. (Author/YP)

Students are challenged to investigate a simple electric motor and to build their own model from a battery, wood block, clips, enameled copper wire, bare wire, and sandpaper. Through trial and error, several discoveries are made, including a substitute commutator and use of a radio to detect motor armature contact changes. (DH)

Describes experiments in which a bipolar transistor is used to examine the behavior of a simple circuit. Also addresses problems in teaching the related concepts. (The experiments can be modified to incorporate devices other than bipolar transistors.) (JN)

Describes a simple, inexpensive electronic circuit used as a small analog computer in an experimental approach to the study of oscillations. Includes circuit diagram and an example of the method using steps followed by students studying underdamped oscillatory motion. (JN)

While students are able to cope with the slide-wire Wheatstone bridge, the slide-wire potentiometer has had a long history of confusing and frustrating elementary physics students. Therefore, a new approach for teaching and using the potentiometer has been developed. This approach is described. (JN)

Describes equipment and procedures for an experiment using diodes to introduce non-linear electronic devices in a freshman physics laboratory. The experiment involves calculation and plotting of the characteristic-curve and load-line to predict the operating point and compare prediction to experimentally determined values. Background information…

Describes construction of two flashing light sources: an adjustable-rate battery-powered flasher and a neon tube powered by a 60-hertz electrical outlet. Both devices may be used for a variety of activities, including studies of free-falling object, pendulum period variation, and acceleration due to gravity. (JN)

The three principal commercially published science projects for less able/motivated students include units on electronics. A simple and inexpensive method of constructing electric circuits is described. Suggestions for making the material in the published units applicable to circuits found in everyday situations are offered. (JN)

The continuous measurement of oxygen consumption in an enzymatic reaction is a frequent experimental fact and extremely important in the enzymatic activity of oxygenase. An electrochemical system, based on a polarographic method, has been developed to monitor the oxygen uptake. The system developed and electrode used are described. (JN)

Describes a microcomputer-controlled system which determines the current/voltage characteristics of a resistor, lamp, and diode, detailing system elements, construction, and providing printout of the program developed to provide control and arithmetic functions necessary to complete the experiment. (SK)

Demonstrates that an electronic Josephson junction analog constructed from three integrated circuits plus an external reference oscillator can exhibit many of the circuit phenomena of a real Josephson junction. Includes computer and other applications of the analog. (Author/SK)

Describes an experiment used to study dielectric properties of materials. Values of the dielectric loss tangent can be determined at low frequencies from Lissajous figures formed on an oscilloscope. Some mineral rock specimens show Debye-type relaxation peaks at frequencies in the region of 1 to 500 Hz. (Author/DS)

Presents experiments which show that in electrostatics there are logical reasons for describing charged materials as positive or negative. Indicates that static and current electricity are not separate areas of physics. Diagrams of experiments and circuits are included. (RT)