Three activities involving electromagnetism are presented. Discussed are investigations involving the construction of an electromagnet, the effect of the number of turns of wire in the magnet, and the effect of the number of batteries in the circuit. Extension activities are suggested. (CW)

Some of the problems concerning the selection of science textbooks are discussed. A specific procedure for evaluating textbooks which uses questioning levels as a criterion is presented. Textbooks are compared with simple statistical methods using this method. (CW)

Describes national and local activities done during National Chemistry Week including chemistry demonstrations, shopping center exhibits, contests, and museum exhibits. Discusses the supplementary material about chemistry in selected editions of 16 newspapers, "Solution for the Future." Presents many pictures showing those activities.…

Discusses simple analysis of urine in the classroom. Describes the materials and procedures for the analysis. Provides a laboratory report giving characteristics of: (1) odor, color, and clarity; (2) specific gravity; (3) sediment; (4) test strips; and (5) albumin and phosphates. (YP)

Presents data for instructors on the current state of ultraviolet-visible detector technology and gives sources of further information. Described are the mechanisms and characteristics of photomultiplier tubes and array detectors. Lists 15 references. (YP)

Reported are the results of a study of organic chemistry courses at 33 different undergraduate colleges and universities. Details of the site visits including lecture and laboratory components of the courses are provided. (CW)

A method and an apparatus for safely observing sunspots is presented. The McIntosh system of sunspot-group classification is illustrated. Construction and enhancement of the apparatus are discussed. (CW)

Children should learn early that science is about doing, about experimentation, and not about recalling facts. This article suggests science curriculum ideas that emphasize process and discovery. A sample lesson plan employing the scientific method is given as well as a resource list that contains suggested sources for experiments. (IAH)

Presents two demonstrations: heatwave focusing by concave reflectors and wave speed on a string. Describes the apparatus, and procedures for the demonstrations. (YP)

Describes how to make and use an inexpensive video disc of physics demonstrations. Discusses the background, production of the disc, subject of the disc including angular momentum, "monkey and the hunter" experiment, Doppler shift, pressure of a constant volume of gas thermometer, and wave effects, and using the disc in classroom. (YP)

Introduces a method for two-dimensional kinematics measurements by hanging marbles with long strings. Describes experimental procedures for conservation of momentum and obtaining the coefficient of restitution. Provides diagrams and mathematical expressions for the activities. (YP)

Examines the educational value of exhibits for transferring wildlife information to high school students. Reports that the passive exhibitry technique produced increases in the wildlife knowledge of students. (Author/YP)

Determines how the use of a science education program affected selected ninth-grade students' comprehension of science reading material. The different effects of the program depended on students' reading and mathematics scores. (Author/YP)

Presents 10 space-related ideas, thoughts, and questions represented on the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT) calendar. The ideas are on impossible shapes, fractals, space itself, galaxy, tesselated pigs, spirals, helices, black holes and three-dimensional surfaces, tesseracts, and mobius bands. (YP)

Describes a paper-and-pencil test for high school biology students measuring science process skills, such as developing hypotheses; making predictions; identifying assumptions; analyzing data; and formulating conclusions. Reports some data on reliability and validity of the test. Provides all 35 items of the test. (YP)