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Dec 1979

Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1017-1111

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Physics requirements in undergraduate engineering education. Report of a private survey

R. Frinks

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1017

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01.40.-d Education

Response to ’’Physics requirements in undergraduate engineering education. Report of a private survey.’’

D.J. Kaup

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1017

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01.40.-d Education

Response to ’’Astronomical meaning of a tropical year’’

Jay M. Pasachoff

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1017

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92.60.-e Properties and dynamics of the atmosphere; meteorology

Response to Pasachoff

Reuben Benumof

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1017

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92.60.-e Properties and dynamics of the atmosphere; meteorology

Is anyone paying attention?

J. Wallingford

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1018

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84.30.Bv Circuit theory

Response to ’’Is anyone paying attention?’’

David H. Current

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1018

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84.30.Bv Circuit theory

A response to ’’A response to ’Dilemma of the primary colors’ ’’

Ronald D. Edge and R. Howard

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1018

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42.30.-d Imaging and optical processing
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Editorial: A legacy of the 70’s: A challenge for the 80’s

Philip B. James and John S. Rigden

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1019

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94.80.+g Instrumentation for space plasma physics, ionosphere, and magnetosphere
01.75.+m Science and society
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The Two Cultures gap revisited

Martin Green

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1020

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I read C. P. Snow’s The Two Cultures in 1960, when I was teaching English at Wellesley, and it made such an impression on me that I spent the next two years trying to redress the imbalance of mind deriving from a purely literary education, by taking a year of undergraduate science and then teaching for a year at a technical college. I wrote a book on the subject, called Science and the Shabby Curate of Poetry, published in 1964. But in the fifteen years since then I have given only sporadic attention to the issue, though I have never forgotten it. I’ve been defeated by the problem of getting past the pious platitudes—’’it’s a crying shame that the two cultures are so divided’’—to arguments that are intellectually or any other way substantial. But now it seems to me that certain external circumstances have change enough that that problem can be resolved; not the problem of the very different experience of men in the humanities from men in the sciences, but the problem of communication between them. What follows are the 1979 reflections on the split, various in character but partly joyful, of a long‐term desponder.
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01.75.+m Science and society
01.70.+w Philosophy of science

A look at the 1979 AAPT Winter Meeting

Mark St. John and Raul Cid‐Campos

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1024

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From January 29 to February 1, 1979, the American Association of Physics Teachers held its annual Winter Meeting in New York City. In this report we describe the results of an illuminative study which investigated the activities and perceptions of those who participated in that meeting. Through interviews, observations, and an assortment of questionnaires, we gathered information about many different aspects of the meeting and from many different points of view. We describe in the report who the participants were and what they wanted from this meeting. We then evaluate the various activities of the meeting in term of their effectiveness in meeting the participants’ wants. Finally, we point out and discuss a few major issues that emerged in the course of our study and were sources of conflict for many of those attending.
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01.10.Fv Conferences, lectures, and institutes
01.75.+m Science and society

Dante and the 3‐sphere

Mark A. Peterson

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1031 | Cited 2 times

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We describe three different methods of visualizing the ’’closed universe’’ S3, and point out language in Dante’s Divine Comedy which suggests that he visualized his universe in the same ways, making his universe topologically S3.
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01.75.+m Science and society
04.20.-q Classical general relativity

Another look through the Heisenberg microscope

H. C. Corben

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1036

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Conditions are examined for measurement of the position and momentum of a particle by Compton scattering from various directions. In addition to the usual uncertainty relation that emerges from this analysis, it is shown that, for a given initial frequency, there is generally a critical angular aperture at which the error in position is a minimum.
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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Simulation of quantum‐mechanical measurements with programmable pocket calculators

G. Sauer

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1038

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A method for the illustration of the statistical nature of measurements in quantum physics by means of simulation with pocket calculators is described. The application to examples like the double‐slit experiment, Mott scattering, and the demonstration of the uncertainty relation is discussed.
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03.65.-w Quantum mechanics
01.50.ht Instructional computer use

Single beam holography

Hsuan Chen and Paul H. Ruterbusch

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1042

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A simple technique of holography, using only one source beam is introduced. Impressive curved holograms and rainbow holograms can be fabricated on an unisolated laboratory table with this technique.
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01.50.-i Educational aids
42.40.-i Holography

Additivity, rapidity, relativity

Jean‐Marc Lévy‐Leblond and Jean‐Pierre Provost

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1045 | Cited 6 times

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A simple and deep standard mathematical theorem asserts the existence, for any one‐parameter differentiable group, of an additive parameter, such as the angle for rotations and the rapidity parameter for Lorentz transformations. The importance of this theorem for the applications of group theory in physics is stressed, and an elementary proof is given. The theorem then is applied to the construction from first principles of possible relativity groups.
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03.30.+p Special relativity
02.20.-a Group theory

Detonation in miniature

Wildon Fickett

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1050 | Cited 6 times

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A mathematical analog for one‐dimensional compressible flow in a chemically reacting fluid is constructed and used as a vehicle for a simplified introduction to such flows, with particular application to detonations. The presentation includes a concise self‐contained introduction to the elements of nonreactive compressible flow.
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47.40.-x Compressible flows; shock waves

Time variation of a vector attached to a moving frame

Robert Weinstock

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1060

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It is well known that for any moving rigid frame of reference there exists at each instant an angular‐velocity vector ω such that the time variation of any vector q constant relative to the frame is given by (dq/dt) =ω×q. With the use of elementary vector algebra and calculus, a rather simple proof is presented of the unique existence of ω and of the validity of the above equation in fullest generality.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Variations on the hydrogen atom: The generator coordinate method

Hsi‐Tseng Chen and A. F. R. de Toledo Piza

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1063

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A nonorthogonal expansion applied to the hydrogen atom is proposed as a pedagogical introduction to the ideas of the generator coordinate method. It can be discussed in any introductory course on quantum mechanics and provides for good numerical approximations at very low computational cost.
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03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states
31.15.-p Calculations and mathematical techniques in atomic and molecular physics

Hydrogen atom and relativistic pi‐mesic atom in N‐space dimensions

Michael Martin Nieto

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1067 | Cited 46 times

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We derive in simple analytic closed form the eigenfunctions and eigenenergies for the hydrogen atom in N dimensions. A section is devoted to the specialization to one dimension. Comments are made on the relation to the harmonic oscillator, the ground‐state energy per degree of freedom, the raising and lowering operators, and the radial momentum operators. By particular changes of variables, the relativistic pi‐mesic atom is solved in the same functional form.
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03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states
36.10.Gv Mesonic, hyperonic and antiprotonic atoms and molecules

Symmetry and invariance of the Coulomb problem

Augustine C. Chen

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1073 | Cited 1 time

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New canonical transformations for the Coulomb problem are introduced, and their geometrical and physical significance discussed. The existence of two invariant momemtum components are shown to be related to the two constants of the motion in a Coulomb field.
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03.50.-z Classical field theories

Influence of the mass of the spring on its static and dynamic effects

Ernesto E. Galloni and Mario Kohen

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1076 | Cited 6 times

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The influence of the mass of a spring on its static elongations or on the oscillation period, when a mass is suspended at its end, is discussed. It is also demonstrated by theory and experiment that the coefficients 2 or 3 commonly used in the literature are not always correct.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Different views of accelerated reference frames

E. R. Tuttle

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1079

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Several uses of the theory of accelerated reference frames are presented. It is shown that, when successive rotational motions occur, the identification of the various terms in the expression for the acceleration observed in an inertial frame is not unique, but rather depends on the interpretation of the observer. A simple derivation of the rigid‐body equations of motion in terms of the Eulerian angles is presented and discussed, and some simple examples presented. The approach given is suitable for presentation to undergraduate students taking a first course in mechanics and does not require a knowledge of variational or energy methods.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation

Determination of the speed of light by measurement of the beat frequency of internal laser modes

R. G. Brickner, L. A. Kappers, and F. P. Lipschultz

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1086 | Cited 2 times

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Detection of the beats between the internal modes of a commercially available laser is used to determine the speed of light. A fast response photodiode attached to the uhf terminals of a television set permits the beats to be detected and displayed.
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06.20.Jr Determination of fundamental constants
42.60.By Design of specific laser systems
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Approach to teaching thermodynamic equilibrium

Robert Weinstock

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1088

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05.70.-a Thermodynamics
01.55.+b General physics
01.40.-d Education

Center of percussion

P. N. Raychowdhury and J. N. Boyd

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1088 | Cited 1 time

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01.55.+b General physics
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Comment on ’’An electronic analog of the diffraction grating’’

T. G. Stinchcomb

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1089

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84.30.-r Electronic circuits
42.25.Bs Wave propagation, transmission and absorption

Note on energy changes in a spring

Peter K. Glanz

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1091 | Cited 1 time

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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
83.10.Ff Continuum mechanics

Equivalence of two formulas for classical deflection in a central field

K. R. Brownstein

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1092

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29.27.-a Beams in particle accelerators
02.30.-f Function theory, analysis

The problem of being a normal deviate

R. T. Hodgson

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1092

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02.50.-r Probability theory, stochastic processes, and statistics

Note to the American Journal of Physics

Alfred Bork

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1093

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01.65.+g History of science
95.10.Ce Celestial mechanics (including n-body problems)

Response to ’’Note to the American Journal of Physics’’ by Alfred Bork

Robert Weinstock

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1093

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01.65.+g History of science
95.10.Ce Celestial mechanics (including n-body problems)

Reflection and elastic scattering

Jørgen Olsen

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1094 | Cited 1 time

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03.30.+p Special relativity

Circuit theory and rectangle dissections

B. R. Judd

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1095

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07.05.Tp Computer modeling and simulation
84.30.Bv Circuit theory

The effect of the earth’s density on g at the poles and equator

C. Barratt

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1096

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04.20.-q Classical general relativity
98.80.Cq Particle-theory and field-theory models of the early Universe (including cosmic pancakes, cosmic strings, chaotic phenomena, inflationary universe, etc.)

Simple device for representing trajectories

R. Dean Ayers

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1097 | Cited 1 time

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

On the Dirac equation for the hydrogen atom

S. Waldenstrøm

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1098 | Cited 3 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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03.65.-w Quantum mechanics

Correspondence principle and scattering from potential steps

David Branson

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1101

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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Directional alignment properties of the bifocal lens

Alfred E. Attard

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1102

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42.79.Bh Lenses, prisms and mirrors

Modified Young’s double slit experiment

C. S. Kang and B. C. Yap

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1103 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
42.25.Hz Interference
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Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology

Russell K. Hobbie, Author and Norman Chonacky

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1105

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.mm Textbooks for graduates and researchers
01.55.+b General physics
87.10.-e General theory and mathematical aspects

Albert Einstein Autobigraphical Notes, A Centennial Editon

Paul Arthur Schlipp, Editor, Translator and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1107

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

Albert Einstein: The Human Side

Helen Dukas, Editor, Banesh Hoffmann, Editor, and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1107

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

Einstein: A Centenary Volume

A. P. French, Editor and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1107

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

The Einstein Century, UNESCO’s Journal, ’’Impact of Science on Society’’

UNESCO Publisher and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1108

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries
01.75.+m Science and society

Einstein’s Universe

Nigel Calder, Author and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1108

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.30.+p Special relativity
04.20.-q Classical general relativity

A Centenary Exhibiton Catalogue

Paul Forman, Author, Paul Haule, Author, and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1108

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.30.+p Special relativity
04.20.-q Classical general relativity

Albert Einstein, 1879–1955: A centenary exhibit of manuscripts, books, and portraits, selected from the Humanities Research Center Collections

Albert C. Lewis, Author and V. V. Raman

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1109

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

Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory, 3rd Edition

John Reitz, Author, F. J. Milford, Author, Robert Christy, Author, and Albert C. Claus

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1110

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.50.De Classical electromagnetism, Maxwell equations

Perception, Theory and Commitment: The New Philosophy of Science

Harold I. Brown, Author and James L. Park

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1110

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.70.+w Philosophy of science

Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity: 60 Years of its Influence on Man and the Universe

Gerald Tauber, Editor and Hans Ohanian

American Journal of Physics -- December 1979 -- Volume 47, Issue 12, pp. 1111

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.30.+p Special relativity
04.20.-q Classical general relativity
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