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Dec 1987

Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1063-1156

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Note on ‘‘Correlation of quantum properties and the generalized Heisenberg inequality’’ [Am. J. Phys. 54, 135 (1986)]

Lazar Mayants

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1063

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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Coriolis and consolation

Johannes A. Van den Akker

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1063

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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Comments on quantum reality

Robert K. Clifton

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1064

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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Pi in the sky continued

John D. Morgan, III

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1064

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02.10.De Algebraic structures and number theory
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Editorial: The vitality of physics goes beyond the ‘‘supers’’

John S. Rigden

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1067

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01.55.+b General physics
01.65.+g History of science
01.10.Cr Announcements, news, and awards
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American Association of Physics Teachers 1987 Millikan Lecture Award Recipient: Donald Glenn Ivey

Robert Beck Clark

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1068

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01.10.Cr Announcements, news, and awards
01.40.-d Education
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries

‘‘Educational television—An oxymoron?’’ Donald Glenn Ivey’s acceptance speech for the 1987 Millikan Lecture Award presented by the American Association of Physics Teachers, 18 June 1987

Donald G. Ivey

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1068

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01.10.Fv Conferences, lectures, and institutes
01.10.Cr Announcements, news, and awards
01.55.+b General physics
01.50.F- Audio and visual aids

The nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl, USSR

Bernard L. Cohen

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1076 | Cited 1 time

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The sequence of events and the consequences of the nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl, USSR in April 1986 are reviewed. The background material in nuclear reactor and nuclear explosion physics required for understanding these events is extensively explained, and the differences between U.S. and Chernobyl‐type reactors are pointed out.
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28.41.Te Protection systems, safety, radiation monitoring, accidents, and dismantling
28.52.Av Theory, design, and computerized simulation
28.50.Hw Power and production reactors

Simple experiments in chaotic dynamics

Keith Briggs

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1083 | Cited 9 times

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Five simple nonlinear physical systems exhibiting chaotic dynamics are described. They are specifically designed for demonstration purposes to illustrate the ideas of period doubling, subharmonics, noisy periodicity, and intermittent and continuous chaos.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
05.45.-a Nonlinear dynamics and chaos

Newton and comets

Alfred Bork

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1089

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The publication of Isaac Newton’s ‘‘notions about motion’’ 300 years ago was a major moment in the history of science. In the period just before 1687 Newton’s correspondence was much concerned with comets. In this period two bright comets were seen. These comets appear to have been a major stimulation to Newton’s work on mechanics.
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01.65.+g History of science
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries
95.30.Sf Relativity and gravitation
95.10.Ce Celestial mechanics (including n-body problems)

Gravity on a half shell

Ronald G. Tabak

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1096

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Although much attention has been given recently to treating the troublesome ‘‘preconceptions’’ that beginning students have acquired concerning elementary kinematics and dynamics, higher‐order misconceptions should not be ignored by instructors. In this article, the problems students have with Newtonian gravitation and extended bodies are examined. A three‐step program involving a classroom exercise (the mass dipole), a homework problem (thin, massive rod), and an extra‐credit assignment (thin, hemispherical shell—‘‘gravity on a half shell’’) is suggested in order to increase student understanding of this important law of nature.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Trajectories of projectiles in air for small times of flight

H. R. Kemp

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1099 | Cited 3 times

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Angle of departure, angle of fall, and the position of the summit of trajectories in air are calculated with neglect of the effect of the air on the fall from the line of departure. Experimental information required is times of flight against range or remaining velocities against range. Calculated values are compared with observed values for a supersonic bullet.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Comments on the horizontal deflection of a falling object

Elie Belorizky and Jean Sivardière

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1103 | Cited 3 times

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The southward deflection of a falling object is derived from an exact calculation by Potgieter in the model of a perfectly spherical Earth. The result is physically interpreted in a reference frame fixed to the Earth. The classical expression given by Sommerfeld is corrected.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Mixing and assimilation in systems of interaction particles

A. Ben‐Naim

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1105 | Cited 1 time

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The concepts of ‘‘mixing’’ and ‘‘assimilation,’’ as previously discussed for ideal gases, are applied to systems of interacting particles. Some common misconceptions frequently found in the literature on solution thermodynamics are noted. These are traced to originate from a faulty interpretation of the thermodynamics of mixing processes.
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05.70.Ln Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics

Coherent states of a harmonic oscillator

Stephen Howard and Sanat K. Roy

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1109 | Cited 16 times

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The coherent states of a harmonic oscillator are introduced following Schrödinger’s definition and the equivalence with other definitions is established. The basic properties of these states are discussed in some detail.
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03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states

Teaching wave functions in the laboratory

John L. Bahr and A. J. Blake

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1118

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The interpretation of the photoelectron spectrum of nitrogen provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of the wave functions for a simple vibrator.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
33.60.+q Photoelectron spectra
33.20.Tp Vibrational analysis

Numerical methods in optics: A course about learning physics through computing

James A. Lock

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1121 | Cited 1 time

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Many advanced undergraduates find it difficult to connect abstract mathematical formalisms with the concrete physical phenomena that they describe. A course in optics from a numerical methods point of view is described. Its purpose is to exploit the students’ familiarity with computng in order to more effectively learn the physics involved in a number of realistic phenomena. The combination of demonstrations, computer calculations, and computer graphics display of the results can prove to be a useful tool in developing physical intuition in students.
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01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
01.50.ht Instructional computer use
42.15.Eq Optical system design
42.79.Bh Lenses, prisms and mirrors
42.25.Bs Wave propagation, transmission and absorption

Electromagnetically driven resonance apparatus

P. J. Ouseph and John P. Ouseph

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1126

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A versatile simple harmonic oscillator suitable for studying free and forced oscillations and the effect of damping at and near the resonant frequency is described. The oscillator consists of a spring and a magnet attached to it, one pole of which is in a tube wound with several coils. One of the coils provides information about the oscillation in that the induced voltage in this coil is proportional to the velocity of the magnet. Forced oscillations are studied by connecting a function generator of variable frequency and amplitude to one of the coils. The remaining coils are used to introduce damping forces of variable magnitude that are proportional to the velocity.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
84.32.Hh Inductors and coils; wiring

Computer‐assisted teaching of optics

Xiangxi Chen, Jacob Huang, and Eddie Loh

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1129 | Cited 2 times

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This article introduces ideas for the teaching of an undergraduate optics course using personal computers. It covers five topics with three on geometric optics and two on physical optics. They are (1) image formation of spherical mirrors, (2) spherical aberration of a lens, (3) chromatic aberration of lenses, (4) computer generated hologram, and (5) Fourier transforms and information processing.
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01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
01.50.ht Instructional computer use
42.15.Eq Optical system design
42.79.Bh Lenses, prisms and mirrors
42.30.Kq Fourier optics

Considerations on the precessing orbit via a rotating Laplace–Runge–Lenz vector

T. Yoshida

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1133 | Cited 6 times

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For the relativistic Kepler–Coulomb problem, a rotating Laplace–Runge–Lenz vector is constructed as an extension of the well‐known conserved vector for the Kepler–Coulomb problem. Motion of the turning point in the precessing orbit is analyzed from the considerations on the coordinate systems related to the rotating vector.
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03.30.+p Special relativity
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

The velocity of sound in a closed tube

J. K. Eddy, J. N. Fox, N. W. Gaggini, D. Ramsey, and T. Kirkpatrick

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1136

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A demonstration experiment is described that permits computer acquisition and real‐time display of data on the sound intensity versus length of a closed tube. Subsequent analysis of the distance between resonant sound peaks provides the values for the velocities of sound in various gases.
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
43.35.Ae Ultrasonic velocity, dispersion, scattering, diffraction, and attenuation in gases
43.20.Mv Waveguides, wave propagation in tubes and ducts
43.58.Dj Sound velocity
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Limits of deviation by a prism

G. B. Friedmann

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1139

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Abstract Unavailable
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07.60.Hv Refractometers and reflectometers
42.79.Bh Lenses, prisms and mirrors
42.79.Fm Reflectors, beam splitters, and deflectors

Does charge conservation imply the displacement current?

Harold S. Zapolsky

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1140 | Cited 3 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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03.50.De Classical electromagnetism, Maxwell equations

Generating problem sets with word processing software

Jearl Walker

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1141

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.ht Instructional computer use
01.50.Kw Techniques of testing

Comment on ‘‘Bell’s theorem and the foundations of quantum physics’’ [Am. J. Phys. 53, 306 (1985)]

Allen C. Dotson

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1142

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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Response to ‘‘Comment on ‘Bell’s theorem and the foundation of quantum physics’ ’’ [Am. J. Phys. 55, 1142 (1987)]

Henry P. Stapp

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1143

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The principle of EPR locality is discussed. (AIP) e
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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Calculating the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit

P. K. Aravind

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1144 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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95.10.Eg Orbit determination and improvement
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Newton’s second law

Joseph B. Keller

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1145 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Erratum: ‘‘Coordination radii in diamond, zinc blende, and CaF2 structures’’ [Am. J. Phys. 50, 653 (1982)]

George L. Hall

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1146

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Abstract Unavailable
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61.66.Fn Inorganic compounds
99.10.Cd Errata

Erratum: Correction for ‘‘Landen’s solution to the cubic’’ [Am. J. Phys. 55, 374 (1987)]

William Squire

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1146

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Abstract Unavailable
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02.60.Cb Numerical simulation; solution of equations
99.10.Cd Errata

Erratum: On the thermodynamics of Planck’s radiation [Am. J. Phys. 54, 754 (1986)]

Corrado Massa

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1146

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Abstract Unavailable
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05.70.-a Thermodynamics
99.10.Cd Errata
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A simple inexpensive photometer using light‐dependent resistors

M. G. C. Peiris and I. K. Perera

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1147

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Abstract Unavailable
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07.60.Dq Photometers, radiometers, and colorimeters
01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus

Faraday’s Law apparatus for the freshman laboratory

Christopher C. Jones

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1148 | Cited 5 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
41.20.Gz Magnetostatics; magnetic shielding, magnetic induction, boundary-value problems
84.32.Hh Inductors and coils; wiring

A simple and sensitive tuned null detector

R. P. Baptista and J. A. Fornés

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1150

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
07.50.-e Electrical and electronic instruments and components
85.90.+h Other topics in electronic and magnetic devices and microelectronics (restricted to new topics in section 85)
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Systems with Small Dissipation

V.B. Braginsky, Author, V.P. Mitrofanov, Author, V.I. Panov, Author, and Robert Krotkov

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1153

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory
83.10.Ff Continuum mechanics
85.25.-j Superconducting devices

The Wisdom of Science

Hanbury Brown, Author and Melba Phillips

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1154

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.75.+m Science and society
01.65.+g History of science

Revolution in Science

I. B. Cohen, Author and S. S. Schweber

American Journal of Physics -- December 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1155

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.65.+g History of science
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