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Jan 2002

Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 4-59

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Food for thought

James O’Connell

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 4

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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01.40.E- Science in school

Misattribution corrected

Robert Weinstock

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 4

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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01.65.+g History of science
01.40.-d Education

On SETI in the classroom

Donald Goldsmith and Tobias Owen

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 4

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
98.90.+s Other topics on stellar systems; interstellar medium; galactic and extragalactic objects and systems; the Universe (restricted to new topics in section 98)
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Editorial Procedures

Karl Mamola

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 6

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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This editorial outlines the process that leads from manuscripts arriving at our desk each morning to printed issues of TPT appearing in your mailbox.
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01.20.+x Communication forms and techniques (written, oral, electronic, etc.)
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Confronting the buoyant force

Ellis D. Noll

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 8 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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A challenge is posed to the author’s students: Determine the density of a metal cylinder without direct measurement of mass and volume. This paper describes two methods that were developed in response to the challenge.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
62.10.+s Mechanical properties of liquids
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Convertible Car

Paul Hewitt

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 12

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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
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A different viewpoint on Doppler-effect calculations

Daniel Hoyt

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 14 | Cited 4 times

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Most users of the Doppler-effect equations use conventions to determine the sign of terms in the equation. It is possible to avoid these conventions by a common-sense analysis that also reteaches the Doppler basics each time the equations are used. Suggestions for equation use and interesting scenarios show just how powerful Doppler equations can be when the sign conventions are dispensed with.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
43.28.Py Interaction of fluid motion and sound, Doppler effect, and sound in flow ducts

Measurement of the fractal dimension of a cauliflower

Michele Zanoni

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 18 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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This paper deals with the wonderful fractal structure of a kind of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis cimosa). The fractal dimension of the vegetable is empirically detected by measurement.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
05.45.Df Fractals
01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus

Simulated secular equilibrium

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr.

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 21 | Cited 2 times

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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The water-column model of radioactive decay discussed by Smithson and Pinkston is modified for use as a demonstration of the stable series of radioactive decays in what is known as secular equilibrium.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus

Tension in a pendulum string

James O’Connell

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 24 | Cited 2 times

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Tension in the string of a simple swinging pendulum is measured and compared with a theoretical expression. Good agreement is found with a simple sine wave with half the pendulum’s period.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation

Revisiting Black’s experiments on the latent heats of water

J. Güémez, C. Fiolhais, and M. Fiolhais

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 26 | Cited 3 times

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Historical experiments may help students to better understand some physical phenomena. We reproduced Black’s original experiments on the latent heats of water (fusion and vaporization). To obtain both latent heats with reasonable accuracy we needed concepts, which were not used by Black, such as the water equivalent of a calorimeter and Newton’s law of cooling. The melting experiment is adequate to obtain an accurate value for the latent heat with a small uncertainty, but the same is not true for the vaporization experiment.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
65.20.-w Thermal properties of liquids
64.70.D- Solid-liquid transitions
64.70.F- Liquid-vapor transitions

Some examples of centripetal acceleration

Ronald Bryan

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 32

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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In lecturing to undergraduate students at Texas A&M University over the years, I have either come across or thought of problems in centripetal acceleration that I assign in an effort to make the subject more interesting. Here are four of my favorites.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
45.40.-f Dynamics and kinematics of rigid bodies

A new Hooke’s law experiment

Fabio Menezes de Souza Lima, Gustavo Mulim Venceslau, and Eliano dos Reis Nunes

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 35 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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In this note we propose an alternative approach to the experimental study of Hooke’s law that takes into account the variation of the elastic constant as a function of the initial length of the spring. We also present an adequate methodology to develop the analysis of graphics that students will obtain in a laboratory when they follow the new method suggested here.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
45.40.Cc Rigid body and gyroscope motion
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Physics and technical characteristics of ultrasonic sonar systems

Dan Maclsaac and Ari Hämäläinen

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 39 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Over the last 20 years, ultrasonic sonar technology has become more prevalent in teaching introductory mechanics laboratories. Hence, an awareness of the physics, measurement constraints, classroom limitations, and pedagogic practices underlying these systems is beneficial professional knowledge for introductory mechanics instructors. This article describes the physics behind these systems at length, discusses Polaroid system technical constraints and behaviors, and suggests solutions for common problematic classroom situations. Alternate classroom sonar systems and sonar-related curricula materials are also addressed.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
43.35.Yb Ultrasonic instrumentation and measurement techniques
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From our files

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr.

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 47

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
41.20.-q Applied classical electromagnetism
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Physics challenges for teachers and students

Boris Korsunsky

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 48

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
62.10.+s Mechanical properties of liquids
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Classroom climate

Patricia Blanton

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 50

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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It is a difficult task for a beginning teacher to establish a classroom climate conducive to learning. No education course can fully prepare you for what happens when you go into that classroom alone and are faced with establishing a situation where learning can occur. Here are four suggestions to help you cope.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
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The twirled ring

Martin Gardner

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 51

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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As all physicists know, when an ice skater spins with outstretched arms then quickly lowers her arms, her rotation speed increases enormously. This effect can be neatly demonstrated with a finger ring and a piece of string.
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
45.50.Dd General motion
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The broken-protractor prediction trick

Marshall Ellenstein

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 52 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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I like demonstrating physics principles in a “magical” way. One day while I was collecting protractors my students had used for a previous project, I stumbled on a remarkable effect. Every protractor that had broken broke in exactly the same place!
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
42.25.Ja Polarization
42.25.Fx Diffraction and scattering
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Nobel e-Museum

Andrew Graham

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 53

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01.30.Xx Publications in electronic media

Survival Guide for New Teachers

Andrew Graham

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 53

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01.30.Xx Publications in electronic media

Bad Physics in Newspapers, Magazines and Literature

Mikolaj Sawicki

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 53

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01.30.Xx Publications in electronic media
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Visualizing tension and compression

Joseph A. Taylor

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 54

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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The use of everyday materials to support instruction in statics is discussed. Specifically, materials such as cardboard and string are used to demonstrate tension and compression in truss-bridge models.
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
45.40.Cc Rigid body and gyroscope motion
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The speed of sound in an iron rod

David Potter

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 56 | Cited 3 times

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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The speed of sound in a solid has traditionally been measured by inducing resonance in a long rod, sometimes by magnetostriction, sometimes by electrostatic attraction, more often by a mechanical driver.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
43.58.Dj Sound velocity
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Times One: SI Units, Conversion and Measurement Skills, by Wacek Kijewski

John L. Hubisz, Reviewer

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 59

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Vv Book reviews
01.30.Kj Handbooks, dictionaries, tables, and data compilations
06.20.-f Metrology

Information Physics: The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory? The New Physics of Information, by Tom Siegfried

Philippe M. Binder, Reviewer

The Physics Teacher -- January 2002 -- Volume 40, Issue 1, pp. 59

Online Publication Date: Apr 2002

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Vv Book reviews
01.30.mp Textbooks for undergraduates
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