Introductory science has become a discovery course for the students at Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire), who are above average in ability and motivation. The philosophy of the course is that it should serve a more humanizing function than the preparation of young technicians, and that this function is as important for the future scientist…

Fourteen basic experiments in mechanical engineering, intended for use at the sophomore level, are presented. The experiments are described as open-ended in order to give students the opportunity to discover the importance of stable operating conditions. The concept of experimentation is introduced and there is an interrelation between theory and…

Reported is a study to investigate the effects of a free-choice program on children's ability to interpret experiments, design simple investigations, and recognize variables that could affect the outcome of observed events. (Author/SA)

This study describes children's learning in a free-choice environment. Teacher controlled instruction is minimized and children participate in a wide variety of science activities with equipment that is selected by each individual student. The study occurs within an elementary school's Science Enrichment Center and the children work on the…

In the Skylab student project, high school students submitted proposals for experiments that could be performed on board Skylab by the astronauts. This book describes the experiments designed by the students and reports what happened to those experiments in the space laboratory. The student experiments included studies of the central nervous…

Presents a list of Biology-A level projects submitted for the Oxford and Cambridge Board examination by pupils of Uppingham School in the United Kingdom. (HM)

Discusses the range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum considered to be the visible portion. Describes a demonstration designed to help students understand the relation between the wavelength measurements on a spectrophotometer such as the Spectronic 20 and the actual colors of light being used. (TW)

Explains: (1) use of piezoelectric film (connected to power supply and oscilloscope) to reveal force-versus-time curves of bouncing balls; (2) use of bound wood splints or meter sticks to illustrate tree or tower stability; and (3) apparatus of co-axial discs with connected linking rods and suspended bobs to simulate waves. (DH)

Discusses electron-loss spectroscopy and the experimentally observed excitation energies in terms of qualitative MO theory. Reviews information on photoelectron spectroscopy and electron transmission spectroscopy and their relation to the occupied and unoccupied orbital levels. Focuses on teaching applications. (ML)

Describes a physical organic experiment in thermodynamics and kinetics for undergraduate courses in organic chemistry, biochemistry, or physical chemistry. Details background information, solution preparations, equipment and methods, and the suggested experiments such as determination of general-base-catalytic coefficients and the Bronsted…

Describes two introductory exercises designed to teach the fundamental ideas and methods of crystallography, and to convey some important features of inorganic and organic crystal structures to students in an advanced laboratory course. Exercises include "The Crystal Structure of NiO" and "The Crystal Structure of Beta-Fumaric Acid." (CW)

Describes a technique of impregnating small amounts of sandy sediment in a quick curing resin for microscopic examination. Details the preparation of materials. Suggests laboratory exercises based on this preparation. (CW)

Describes a project that can be used to encourage intellectual independence in students and teach them some of the inquiry procedures used in scientific research. Discusses procedures, safety precautions, and sample results. (CW)

Describes an experiment to be performed in an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory that is based on a gradient centrifugation system employing a simple bench top centrifuge, a freezer, and frozen surcose gradient solution to separate macromolecules and subcellular components. (CW)

Describes a kinetic and mechanistic investigation of ascorbic acid by a substitution-inert complex in acidic medium suitable for the undergraduate level. Discusses obtaining the second order rate constant for the rate determining step at a given temperature and comparison with the value predicted on the basis of the Marcus cross-relation. (CW)