Suggests an apparatus to improve the measurement of the mechanical equivalent of heat. Describes the materials needed to construct the apparatus; the methodology of an experiment to measure the heat gained by lead shot falling through a distance of 100 meters; and the calculations made to register that gain. (MDH)

Presents an experiment to investigate centripetal force and acceleration that utilizes an airplane suspended on a string from a spring balance. Investigates the possibility that lift on the wings of the airplane accounts for the differences between calculated tension and measured tension on the string. (MDH)

A new, simple classroom technique helps cell biology students understand principles of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics. A student mimics the enzyme and the student's hand represents the enzyme's active site. The catalytic event is the transfer of marbles (substrate molecules) by hand from one plastic container to another. As predicted, increases…

This book helps children develop the capability and confidence to design, construct, and evaluate working models. Projects in this book are suitable for students in grades K-4, but may be adapted for older students. Step-by-step explanations for each project are meant as guidelines and completion of the project is not limited to a single correct…

Critiques the "energy circus," an approach to the introduction of ideas of energy transformation and conservation which is in common use in secondary schools. Identifies some practical and conceptual difficulties and outlines an alternative approach used in introducing ideas about energy using real devices and arrow notation. (CW)

Investigates spontaneous reasoning of 709 French, Belgian, and British students in elementary dynamics using the relations between force, energy and motion as the study topic. Students were selected from the last year at secondary school to the third year at university. (HM)

Describes a student kinetic experiment involving second order kinetics as well as displaying photochromism using a wide variety of techniques from both physical and organic chemistry. Describes measurement of (1) the rate of the recombination reaction; (2) the extinction coefficient; and (3) the ESR spectrometer signal. (Author/JN)

Presented is an analogy that can be used to explain the particle theory of matter. The three phases of matter are represented by preschoolers, yuppies, and senior citizens. The value of using analogies is discussed. (KR)

Presented is a computer simulation called "The Great Chemical Bead Game" which can be used to teach the concepts of equilibrium and kinetics to introductory chemistry students more clearly than through an experiment. Discussed are the rules of the game, the application of rate laws and graphical analysis. (CW)

States that quantitative modelling allows teachers to concentrate more on qualitative understanding. Suggests the main benefits as (1) repetitive calculations are reduced allowing greater attention to be focused on underlying models; (2) more "what if" models can be tested; and (3) a wider variety of data can be used to test models. (MVL)

Described is a heterogeneous catalysis course which has elements of materials processing embedded in the classical format of catalytic mechanisms and surface chemistry. A course outline and list of examples of recent review papers written by students are provided. (MVL)

Reports an instructional application of a theory of analogical reasoning. Uses the grinding of a sugar cube as an explanatory-predictive analogy for state transitions of water as a stimulus for promoting associations with other appropriate experiences in elementary school students. (PR)

Kinetic models of a gas can be hard for students to understand. Typical tools do not display events at the microscopic level, yet computer simulations of the molecules lack a hands-on aspect. Here a new tool is described that combines the squeezing of a syringe with a computer simulation, and it is shown that this has worked well in class for both…

This document--intended for secondary school and college students--contains technology education instructional units on engines and power, energy conversion, energy futures, energy sources, communication and society, energy and power in communication, communication systems, microelectronics in communication, transportation in society, energy and…

Adjunct questions were inserted after each of 12 computer-animated graphics sequences shown to 160 eighth-grade science students. These sequences presented two relationships in a purely spatial fashion. Four randomly assigned treatment groups received questions targeting one of the two relationships (temperature or molecular motion) over all or…