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American Journal of Physics

The Physics Teacher»
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SECTION LISTING

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
CORRECTION
EDITORIAL
AAPT AWARDS
AAPT 75TH ANNIVERSARY
FIGURING PHYSICS
PAPERS
APPARATUS FOR TEACHING PHYSICS
TRICK OF THE TRADE
LITTLE GEMS
FROM OUR FILES
PHYSICS CHALLENGE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
FOR THE NEW TEACHER
WEBSIGHTS
BOOK REVIEWS
IN MY OPINION

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Volume 44

Issue 9 | Dec 2006 | pp. 566-624

Issue 8 | Nov 2006 | pp. 486-560

Issue 7 | Oct 2006 | pp. 406-480

Issue 6 | Sep 2006 | pp. 326-400

Issue L2 | Aug 2006 | pp. L1-L1

Issue L1 | Jun 2006 | pp. L1-L2

Issue 5 | May 2006 | pp. 262-320

Issue 4 | Apr 2006 | pp. 198-256

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Apr 2006

Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 198-256

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Turbo Ring Flinger

Lester Evans

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 198

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.My	Demonstration experiments and apparatus
01.55.+b	General physics

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Averting Armageddon

Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 198

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.40.J-	Teacher training
01.55.+b	General physics
96.30.Ys	Asteroids, meteoroids
95.10.Ce	Celestial mechanics (including n-body problems)

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Sizing Up Atoms

James J. Carr

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 198

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.40.J-	Teacher training
01.55.+b	General physics
32.30.-r	Atomic spectra

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Project 2061 Plans for Assessment

Tom Regan and George DeBoer

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 199

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.40.jc	Preservice training
01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
01.40.Fk	Research in physics education

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Logger Pro vs MacMotion

Boye M. Odom

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 199

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.My	Demonstration experiments and apparatus
01.50.hv	Computer software and software reviews
01.55.+b	General physics

CORRECTION

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Correction: “Sine Waves in the Snow,” Phys. Teach. 44, 85 (Feb. 2006)

Albert A. Bartlett

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 199

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.My	Demonstration experiments and apparatus
62.30.+d	Mechanical and elastic waves; vibrations
99.10.Cd	Errata

EDITORIAL

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Pseudoscience

Karl C. Mamola

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 200

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.40.E-	Science in school
01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
01.75.+m	Science and society

AAPT AWARDS

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2006 Distinguished Service Citations Awarded to: Mario Belloni, Steven Iona, Zigmund Peacock, Gregory Puskar, and Frieda Stahl

Jim Nelson, AAPT Awards Committee Chair

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 201

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.10.Cr	Announcements, news, and awards
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

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2006 Distinguished Service Citations Awarded to: Mario Belloni, Steven Iona, Zigmund Peacock, Gregory Puskar, and Frieda Stahl

Jim Nelson, AAPT Awards Committee Chair

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 201

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable

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01.10.Cr	Announcements, news, and awards
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

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2006 Distinguished Service Citations Awarded to Mario Belloni, Steven Iona, Zigmund Peacock, Gregory Puskar, and Frieda Stahl

Jim Nelson, AAPT Awards Committee Chair

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 202

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable

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01.10.Cr	Announcements, news, and awards
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

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2006 Distinguished Service Citations Awarded to: Mario Belloni, Steven Iona, Zigmund Peacock, Gregory Puskar, and Frieda Stahl

Jim Nelson, AAPT Awards Committee Chair

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 202

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable

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01.10.Cr	Announcements, news, and awards
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

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2006 Distinguished Service Citations Awarded to Mario Belloni, Steven Iona, Zigmund Peacock, Gregory Puskar, and Frieda Stahl

Jim Nelson, AAPT Awards Committee Chair

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 203

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

Full Text: Read Online (HTML) | Download PDF

Abstract Unavailable

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01.10.Cr	Announcements, news, and awards
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

AAPT 75TH ANNIVERSARY

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AAPT 75th Anniversary

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 204

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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In recognition of the 75th anniversary of AAPT, during this year we will be publishing brief notes on interesting and significant science-related events in 1931, the founding year of the association.

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01.65.+g	History of science
01.60.+q	Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

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AAPT 75th Anniversary

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 204

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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In recognition of the 75th anniversary of AAPT, during this year we will be publishing brief notes on interesting and significant science-related events in 1931, the founding year of the association.

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01.65.+g	History of science
01.10.Hx	Physics organizational activities

FIGURING PHYSICS

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TIDES

Paul Hewitt

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 205

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.-i	Educational aids
01.55.+b	General physics

PAPERS

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Teaching Image Formation by a Lens

Paul Gluck

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 206

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Geometrical optics followed by wave optics is the traditional sequence in an introductory course. Apart from discussing the conditions for the validity of each regime, little attention is normally paid to the insights that physical optics can provide in geometrical optics, except for the diffraction-limited resolving power of instruments by means of the Rayleigh criterion. Yet, everything one can prove with rays can (and should?) be shown using the wave picture together with the Huygens construction, be it the laws of refraction and refraction, the thin lens, or the lens maker's formulae.

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42.25.Fx	Diffraction and scattering
42.25.Lc	Birefringence
42.30.-d	Imaging and optical processing

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Albert Einstein and Mościcki's Patent Application

Zofia Gołab-Meyer

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 212

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Much was said and written during the 2005 World Year of Physics about Einstein's work in the Bern, Switzerland, Patent Office (Fig. 1). He took the post (Technical Expert 3rd Class) there after completing his studies at the Zurich Polytechnic (later called ETH) in 1900 and being unsuccessful in his attempts to obtain a university position. However, little seems to be known of the patent applications he examined during his five years at the office in Bern. This paper discusses one of those applications—one that was submitted by a rather remarkable individual.

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01.65.+g

History of science

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Proficiency Tests for Introductory Physics

Eugene J. Hoffman

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 214

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Just as passing a music course from “Appreciation” on up demands at least basic proficiency in note reading and harmony, so even physics for nonscience students requires some mathematical skills. We are often frustrated, however, by students who in the midst of a beautifully deductive derivation hesitate over, say, the definition of a cosine. In an effort to hasten development of key problem-solving skills, I have added timed proficiency tests to the conventional array of learning tools, homework, quizzes, hour exams, etc.

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01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
01.50.Qb	Laboratory course design, organization, and evaluation

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Teaching To the Test: Some SSS-Based TTTTT

Boris Korsunsky

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 217 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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“Teaching to the test” is an expression that has a decidedly derogatory connotation in the world of education. It is usually used to describe relentless and mindless drills with the expectation that the tasks on the test will resemble the drill exercises. However, “teaching to the test” can be understood in a broader—and much more positive—sense. A learning cycle always includes assessment tasks (well, tests)—and it seems a reasonable goal for an instructor to help the students take those tests successfully. In a way, one is always “teaching to the test.”

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01.40.G-	Curricula and evaluation
01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
01.50.Rt	Physics tournaments and contests

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Radius of Gyration of a Sphere and a Barrel

Alfred F. Leung

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 222

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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This paper describes a method for measuring the radius of gyration of a circular object. In the experiment a circular object rolls down an elevated incline and then falls freely to the ground. Its radius of gyration is determined by its initial height on the incline, as well as the height and range of the free fall. The determination relies on many basic concepts, such as rolling without slipping, relationship between translation and rotational kinetic energies, conservation of energy, and equations of motion for free fall. The method is applied to measure the radius of gyration of a sphere and a barrel. The apparatus is so simple that students can do the experiment at home.

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45.20.dc	Rotational dynamics
45.20.dg	Mechanical energy, work, and power
45.40.-f	Dynamics and kinematics of rigid bodies

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Frost in the Solar System

Gordon McIntosh

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 226 | Cited 2 times

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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As an astronomy instructor, I am always looking for commonly observed phenomena on Earth that also appear elsewhere. Frost is an example of such a phenomenon, and this paper discusses frosts of various materials that occur on Mars and on other bodies throughout the solar system.

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96.00.00	Solar system; planetology
65.90.+i	Other topics in thermal properties of condensed matter (restricted to new topics in section 65)

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Aliens or the SR-71 Blackbird?

Michael J. Ruiz

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 229

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) capture the interest of our students and the general public.^1,2 Here is a UFO story I tell my students to illustrate the workings of science. Science, at its most fundamental level, is observation and an attempt to analyze what is observed. But what happens when an observation cannot be explained with the available knowledge at the time? What do we do? The UFO sighting of my story could not be explained until disclosure of a top-secret military aircraft, the SR-71, also known as the “Blackbird.”

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01.40.J-	Teacher training
01.75.+m	Science and society
01.90.+g	Other topics of general interest (restricted to new topics in section 01)

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Work, Energy Transfer, and Sliding Friction

Dick C. H. Poon

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 232 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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In the analysis of work done by sliding friction, there are complications that arise from the deformations of the points of contact where friction originates. This paper presents a physical picture of the energy processes in which these complications are sidestepped and the traditional simple textbook explanation becomes acceptable.

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01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
45.20.dg	Mechanical energy, work, and power
46.00.00	Continuum mechanics of solids

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Retaking a Test Online

Gerd Kortemeyer, Wolfgang Bauer, Walter Benenson, and Edwin Kashy

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 235

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Tests and midterms given during the running semester are, in the mindset of most educators, located somewhere between formative and summative assessment: more serious than homework, but still—as opposed to the final exam—mostly a learning opportunity. In the mindset of most learners, however, these venues are purely summative—they “flunked” or “did well” on a test, but mostly, they got it over with. Few students come to office hours to understand what they did wrong. If they had a bad day, they have no second chance to correct their mistakes, but more importantly, they do not receive any immediate incentive or reward to address detected deficiencies, or for deeper learning, reviewing, and understanding of the material after the test is over.

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01.40.gb	Teaching methods and strategies
01.50.Qb	Laboratory course design, organization, and evaluation
01.40.G-	Curricula and evaluation

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Why Do We Feel Weightless in Free Fall?

Pirooz Mohazzabi

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 240 | Cited 2 times

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Using a very simple model, we explain why in free fall we do not feel our own weight or acceleration due to gravity, whereas in an accelerating vehicle not only do we feel our acceleration and the inflicting force, if they are high enough, they can be fatal.

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01.30.Rr	Surveys and tutorial papers; resource letters
01.55.+b	General physics
45.20.da	Forces and torques

APPARATUS FOR TEACHING PHYSICS

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An Old Favorite: The Noncircular “Wheel”

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr.

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 244 | Cited 1 time

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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For many years, Prof. H.R. Crane of the University of Michigan wrote a wonderful series of notes for The Physics Teacher under the running title “How Things Work.” I find myself going back regularly to them for inspiration and remembrance.

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01.50.My	Demonstration experiments and apparatus
01.55.+b	General physics

TRICK OF THE TRADE

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Force on a Current-Carrying Wire

Seán Stewart

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 245

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.Pa	Laboratory experiments and apparatus
01.55.+b	General physics

LITTLE GEMS

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Phosphorescent Drawing Pendulum

Luka Vidic and Miha Kos

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 246

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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45.20.da	Forces and torques
01.50.Pa	Laboratory experiments and apparatus

FROM OUR FILES

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Interference bands observable at a distance from a light source

Walter H. Kruschwitz

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 248

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.My	Demonstration experiments and apparatus
01.55.+b	General physics

PHYSICS CHALLENGE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

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A Faradayan Slip

Boris Korsunsky

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 249

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.Rt	Physics tournaments and contests
01.40.J-	Teacher training

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The Springs in the Winter

Boris Korsunsky

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 249

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Abstract Unavailable

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01.50.Rt	Physics tournaments and contests
01.40.J-	Teacher training

FOR THE NEW TEACHER

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Student Problem-Solving Behaviors

Kathleen A. Harper

The Physics Teacher -- April 2006 -- Volume 44, Issue 4, pp. 250 | Cited 2 times

Online Publication Date: Mar 2006

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Kathy Harper is director of undergraduate curriculum development in the physics department at The Ohio State University. She has been involved in local and national workshops for in-service teachers and conducts research in student problem solving.

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