Table of contents

The author discusses the success of the 'new mathematics' syllabus in british schools.

The committee found that, in spite of the amount and diversity of information and views given us, they could unanimously agree on some precise and modest proposals which they feel could greatly improve the present situation. These involve, firstly, the Panels of the General Certificate of Education Examining Boards, and follow directly from the statistics related to A level candidates' subsequent histories; and, secondly, explicit suggestions on syllabuses.

The author describes the educational system in New Zealand as it relates to the teaching of physics and the importance of the physical science study committee.

The author considers that a combination of short numerical questions, structured essay questions and multiple-choice items probably represents the best total examination.

The author briefly sketches the role of e.m. and particle irradiation in cancer therapy.

For a students' experiment, it was necessary to measure the field strength of a large permanent magnet. Neither a fluxmeter nor a ballistic (long period) galvanometer was available. A simple method was devised for measuring the field strength with a current (short period) galvanometer; and, apart from solving the immediate problem, the method proved to be a useful exercise in the theory of the galvanometer itself.

A description of the structure of a large molecule may involve a number of qualitatively different parameters. To describe an individual polymer chain it is necessary to mention such factors as the structure of the monomer unit, the type of linkage, the formation of a secondary structure and the tacticity or the type of copolymer if more than one kind of monomer unit is present. To describe a structure in full it is also necessary to quote the chain length and the distribution of chain lengths, if they are not all the same, the amount of chain branching or cross- linking and, in appropriate cases, the tertiary and quaternary structure.

The author describes a two-dimensional model suitable for introducing students to the principles of tensile testing. It is in fact a teaching aid for demonstration purposes.

The author discusses the methods and practical details of observations by the amateur astronomer.

In order to move from one coincidence to another the optical path is usually changed by altering the actual path l whereas in the experiment described it is the refractive index mu which is varied.

The author discusses the definition of the Avogadro constant and the implicit ideas about quantities and units associated with it. It is suggested that, in addition to the Avogadro constant, one should recognize the Avogadro number, N₀=6.02*10²³. In some ways N₀ is a more natural and convenient quantity than L, although of course the two are intimately connected: L=N₀ mole^-1.

This form of data analysis problem crops up regularly throughout many branches of physics when the variation of the dependent variable is to be ascertained for equal increments of the independent variable. For example, each antimode (or node) being separated from its nearest neighbour by a fixed increment of lambda /2-so that lambda can be ascertained. By consideration of a typical set of data possible analytic procedures ware discussed for dealing with the situation in order that a suitable criterion for student use may be reached.

The author describes some simple equipment, which is inherently safe in spite of the high pressures involved, which shows the liquefaction effects directly and which yields P and V measurements accurate enough to test the validity of the model equations. It has features in common with the apparatus of Reamer and Sage (1957) but is much simpler and cheaper. The substance used is ethane which has a critical temperature of 32 degrees C.

The author describes a course in the certificate of education and B. Ed degree at Leeds, England which tries to provide an overview of the role of science in society.