Books and Publications

• For a good dictionary of words used in physics, you would do well to consider The Penguin Dictionary of Physics, 3rd Edition in 2000. Use www.penguin.com .
• The Handy Physics Answer Book by P.E. Gundersen. This book has 800+ questions with answers to present areas of physics such as motion, fluids, sound, light, electricity, modern physics and other topics. Typical questions are: Why do objects fall?, What is a stealth plane?, and How do liquids evaporate? It is at the secondary school level. Visible Ink published the book in 1999. The Q/A format is an interesting way to present physics.
• Six Easy Pieces and Six Not-So-Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher. This was written by Richard P. Feynman and published by Perseus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2001 at $25.
• Mathlink: Network Programming with Mathematica by C. Miyaji and P. Abbott, Cambridge University Press, New York. The paperback has 243 pages and cost $29.95. These last two items were found in the New Books Section of Physics Today, March 2002.
• The Future of Life by Edward O. Wilson. The publisher is Knopf and the cost is $22 for the hardcover. The publication date is 2002. Wilson argues that it is important to preserve biodiversity and the many species that exist. An economic argument to support biodiversity is given also. This information comes partly from Science News, April 27,2002. Science News has a section called Books in each issue. It contains fine short book reviews on all areas of science and technology.
• Book Review Sources - Please note in addition to new books listed in Physics Today - New Books and Science News - Books, there are book reviews in: a) The Physics Teacher in the Books Reviews section; b) Science (published by AAAS); c) American Scientist (published by Sigma Xi); and d) American Journal of Physics (published by AAPT).

Demostrations, Videos, Software, Kits. etc.

• To aid in developing and using demonstrations, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics was published by AAPT. The authors are Freier and Anderson and the price for members is $31.50 and $35 for nonmembers. The book contains hundreds of demonstrations for high school and college classes. Call 301-209-3333 or use www.aapt.org/catalog. Note. I find demonstrations most helpful in lectures and also in physics labs on a side table that students can see and use to enrich the lab experience. The demonstration illustrates in a different way the physical ideas needed in the lab experiment.
• Are you aware of AAPT's Physical Science Resource Center? Included are website resources for K-16 physics and physical science teaching. Subjects covered are: careers, teaching communities, demonstrations, curricula, news and other topics. Use www.psrc-online.org
• In addition there is an AAPT website called Science Job Market at www.psrc-online.org/jobs It has academic and non-academic listings, no charge, direct links to employers, online submission form, etc.
• Twin Views of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse is a VHS cassette with a user's guide. This tape includes Franklin Miller's 1963 film and a 1982 film by Fuller, Zollman and Campbell. Call 301-209-3333.
• The Vernier Company has a Force Plate which one can jump on and determine, for example, jump forces and heel strike forces. It costs $199 and is sold by Vernier Software and Technology. Call 503-277-2299 or use www.vernier.com
• The Vernier Company also offers Graphical Analysis 3.0 which is a program for use in constructing, printing and analyzing graphs. It is a new version. The program can be used with Macintosh and windows files. Use 503-277-2299.
• American 3B Scientific is a supplier of equipment for labs and demonstrations. It sells many fine products. Call 1-888-326-6335.
• PASCO has Probware for Learning equipment for all sciences. Call 1-800-772-8700