Chemical Education Today
Reports From Other Journals
The Physics Teacher by Volker B. E. Thomsen
The Physics Teacher (TPT) is a journal dedicated to introductory level physics education. We present here several recently published articles that have been selected on the basis of their interest to teachers of chemistry. Included are four on optics, one on the greenhouse effect, and finally a new nuclear science poster that really must be seen! As so much analytical instrumentation has an optical basis, novel introductory level pedagogical techniques for this branch of physics should be welcome. Let’s start with “Edible Optics: Using Gelatin to Demonstrate Properties of Light” by Patrick Bunton (TPT 1997, 35, 421). Normally demonstrations of the effects of an optical component on a parallel beam of light are limited by the components available. Bunton shows how to remove this limitation by making these components from gelatin. This also allows demonstrations that are not possible with glass optics. For example, squeezing a gelatin lens shortens its focal length and demonstrates accommodation of the lens in the eye. In “Image Quality and Simplicity in Basic Holography” by Mark Biermann and Brent Hild (TPT 1997, 35, 408), the authors note that “holography has a way of attracting and holding the imagination and curiosity of students and instructors alike.” They add that holography is most effective as a teaching tool when the students can actually make their own holograms. To encourage this activity, the authors have investigated a simplified one-beam holography set-up. They compare the results to the more complex and costly two-beam version. “A Simple Interferometer” by Kevin T. Kilty (TPT 1997, 35, 507) provides a demonstration of the thermal expansion of glass using a simple interferometer. Using a He-Ne laser, a glass slide, and a soldering iron for heating, they can produce striking interference patterns. Harry Manos of Schurr High School in Montebello, CA presents a convincing demonstration of the reality of infrared radiation in “Hearing Infrared” (TPT 1997, 35, 552). In response to student complaints such as, “If it’s invisible, how do we know it’s there,” Manos provides an audible signal from a TV infrared remote. The simple device requires only three off-the-shelf parts from Radio Shack.
Featured Articles “Edible Optics: Using Gelatin to Demonstrate Properties of Light” by Patrick Bunton (TPT 1997, 35, 421) “Image Quality and Simplicity in Basic Holography” by Mark Biermann and Brent Hild (TPT 1997, 35, 408) “A Simple Interferometer” by Kevin T. Kilty ( TPT 1997, 35, 507) “Hearing Infrared” by Harry Manos (TPT 1997, 35, 552) “In The Greenhouse Effect Experiment” by Se-yuen Mak (TPT 1997, 35, 504) “The Nuclear Science Wall Chart” by the Contemporary Physics Education Project (TPT 1997, 35, 543)
“In The Greenhouse Effect Experiment” (TPT 1997, 35, 504) author Se-yuen Mak of the Chinese University of Hong Kong explains how to make the traditional greenhouse effect experiment more reliable and effective. The trick is to add a thin slip of colored paper to the test tube greenhouse along with the thermometer. The article provides the details.“The Nuclear Science Wall Chart” included in the December issue (TPT 1997, 35, 543) is produced by the Contemporary Physics Education Project (http://www.pdg.lbl.gov/ cpep), a non-profit association of teachers, educators and physicists. The poster covers the following topics: expansion of the universe, radioactivity, the nucleus, chart of the nuclides, unstable nuclei, phases of nuclear matter, nuclear energy, and applications including nuclear medicine and radioactive dating. It is packed with information but laid out in an attractive and unoverwhelming way. This exquisite poster will grace any science classroom (ordering information is available from Science Kit, phone 800/828-7777). Volker B. E. Thomsen is a scientist at Spectro Analytical Instruments, Inc., 160 Authority Dr., Fitchburg, MA 01420;
[email protected].
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Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 75 No. 4 April 1998 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu
