Table of contents

`Static', better described as `contact electrification', is of much more frequent occurrence than is commonly supposed. The reasons for this and for the little notice that is taken of it are discussed below. It is becoming an ever-increasing nuisance in many branches of industry, and a short account is given of how it interferes, and of what can be done to combat it. A few simple lecture demonstrations are described which are designed to illustrate the industrial aspect. Part of our present ignorance of the subject is the indirect result of inadequate teaching of electrostatics a generation ago (as we now realize), together with the almost complete neglect of contact electrification by the universities. Some elementary errors which have confused the literature are discussed.

The description of the behaviour of unpaired electrons in magnetic fields is informative in that it can be described either by using a very pictorial classical argument or by employing the ideas of the quantum theory.

The technique of electron paramagnetic resonance allows the magnetic moments resulting from unpaired electrons to be studied wherever they occur. If unpaired electrons are present in a solid, liquid or gas, then because of their strong interaction with their surroundings the details of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum give a great deal of information on the microscopic environment in which these electrons are situated. Some of the useful applications and promising developments of this technique will be described.

The history of medical physics is reviewed, from which it is seen that it is better described as the applications of physics to medicine. The work done by a physicist employed in a hospital is discussed together with the qualities, other than ability as a physicist, that he requires. Methods whereby one can become a medical physicist are given, the conclusion being that the most essential thing is to be a good physicist before becoming a medical physicist.

An appreciation and account is given of a ten-week course at the College of Education, Worcester.

Classical physics is determined by the scale on which matter can be handled in everyday use; quantum physics results from the study of the interaction of matter on this scale with matter on smaller scales; cosmic physics is the study of matter on much greater scales, and there are many properties of matter that are observable and significant only on such scales. Moreover, since the laws of physics and the physical universe that actually exists must be interdependent, some of the deeper aspects of physics can be treated only as part of the study of the cosmos.

An experiment is described which illustrates the force on a charged body in an electric field. It also demonstrates the equivalence between electric current and transfer of charge.

This article is designed to bring the O-level astronomy course to the notice of schools not directly connected with the subject. It discusses the syllabus in general terms and suggests methods of introducing it into the existing timetable. It then goes on to outline the snags arising from following the course with emphasis on the written work and a criticism of the practical as presented in the syllabus.

Practical suggestions are given with regard to useful books and their methods related to the subject and to the types of telescopes, their limitations and minimum requirements for school equipment. The bibliography lists books for the required level and useful visual aids.

The scattering of particles by atoms or nuclei is an important aspect of physics. In this short note details are given of a model employing marbles which can be used to introduce the theory, and an experiment in which electrons are scattered by air molecules. In both the model and with the electrons the experimental results lead to an estimate of the size of the scattering centre.