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Sep 1987

Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 775-863

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Is light a particle?

J. Perdijon

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 775 | Cited 1 time

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05.30.-d Quantum statistical mechanics

1/r potential

Mario Iona

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 775

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

Shadows on ‘‘Movable chalkboards in the science lecture hall’’ [ Am. J. Phys. 55, 219 (l987)]

Ben Greenebaum

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 776

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01.52.+r National and international laboratory facilities

Exploiting the drift velocity of charge carriers

George Galeczki

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 776

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85.60.Gz Photodetectors (including infrared and CCD detectors)
85.30.De Semiconductor-device characterization, design, and modeling
72.20.Jv Charge carriers: generation, recombination, lifetime, and trapping

The king’s new tower

Kenneth S. Mendelson

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 776

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02.30.Lt Sequences, series, and summability

Comment on ‘‘A disappearing rod’’[ Am. J. Phys. 55, 177 (l987)]

Francis C. Stephenson and George W. Ficken, Jr.

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 777

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44.90.+c Other topics in heat transfer (restricted to new topics in section 44)

Electron g‐factor without QED?

Peter McNeall

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 777

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13.40.Em Electric and magnetic moments
13.40.Gp Electromagnetic form factors
14.20.Dh Protons and neutrons
14.60.Cd Electrons (including positrons)

Author responds

H. Aspden

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 777

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13.40.Em Electric and magnetic moments
13.40.Gp Electromagnetic form factors
14.20.Dh Protons and neutrons
14.60.Cd Electrons (including positrons)
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Editorial: The introductory physics course and modern physics

John S. Rigden

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 779

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01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
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American Association of Physics Teachers 1987 Oersted Medalist: Clifford E. Swartz

John S. Rigden

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 781

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01.10.Cr Announcements, news, and awards

‘‘Strong and Weak Interactions,’’ Clifford E. Swartz’s acceptance speech for the 1987 Oersted Medal presented by the American Association of Physics Teachers, 30 January 1987

Clifford E. Swartz

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 781

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

Resource letter IQM‐2: Foundations of quantum mechanics since the Bell inequalities

L. E. Ballentine

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 785 | Cited 6 times

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This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on the foundations of quantum mechanics over approximately the past 20 years. Topics covered include Bell’s theorem, interpretation of the quantum state concept, the theory of measurement, and experimental tests of fundamental aspects of the quantum theory of matter and the electromagnetic field. The letter E after an item indicates elementary level of material of general interest to persons becoming informed in the field. The letter I, for intermediate level, indicates material of somewhat more specialized nature; and the letter A indicates rather specialized or advanced material. An asterisk (∗) indicates those articles to be included in an accompanying Reprint Book.
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01.30.Rr Surveys and tutorial papers; resource letters
03.65.-w Quantum mechanics

The Bezold–Brücke phenomenon and Goethe’s rejection of Newton’s Opticks

Michael Duck

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 793

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It is beyond dispute that the main objective of the polemical part of Goethe’s Farbenlehre, namely, the refutation of Newton’s Opticks, was a misguided one. Many consider it to be inexplicable that a man of Goethe’s intellectual standing should have behaved in such an apparently irrational manner. It so happens, however, that the characteristics of the subjective spectrum are more akin to Goethe’s model than to Newton’s. It is true that Goethe put an incorrect interpretation upon what he saw—and was the first to see—but a careful scrutiny of his scientific method reveals that his reasoning was far from irrational.
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01.65.+g History of science
42.66.Ne Color vision: color detection, adaptation, and discrimination
42.90.+m Other topics in optics (restricted to new topics in section 42)

Microcomputer interfacing: A course for science majors

Gerard P. Lietz

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 796

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A course in microcomputer interfacing for science majors is described. The emphasis is on attaching devices to the computer rather than interconnecting the components of the computer itself. Lab exercises use an 8‐bit microcomputer, the Rockwell AIM 65 (now marketed by Dynatem, Inc., 22600‐D Lambert Street, El Toro, CA 92630), but they are not computer specific. Topics covered include handshaking, polling, interrupts, A/D and D/A conversion, and stepping motor control. Assembly language is introduced and used throughout the course.
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01.40.Di Course design and evaluation
01.50.ht Instructional computer use
07.05.Bx Computer systems: hardware, operating systems, computer languages, and utilities
89.20.Ff Computer science and technology

The floating plank

R. Delbourgo

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 799 | Cited 2 times

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The stable floating configuration of a long plank of rectangular cross section depends on the relative density of the plank to the fluid and on the ratio of the sides. The complete solution of this metacentric problem is given.
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83.10.Ff Continuum mechanics

Ehrenfest theorem and the classical trajectory of quantum motion

J. Nag, V. J. Menon, and S. N. Mukherjee

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 802 | Cited 2 times

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Ehrenfest theorem asserts that the quantum mechanical motion of a particle when considered in the expectation value sense should agree with classical mechanics in the correspondence limit. An explicit verification of this result is presented in the one‐dimensional case for motion in an infinite potential well (large quantum number limit) and a brief mention is made of the case of a smooth potential (ℏ→0 limit).
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03.65.Ca Formalism

Order‐of‐magnitude ‘‘theory’’ of stellar structure

George Greenstein

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 804

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A rough order‐of‐magnitude analysis is made of the equations of stellar structure. Analytic formulas are derived for the luminosity, radius, and mass as functions of the temperature. These formulas, while highly approximate, provide a simple, analytically tractable model of a star.
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97.10.Cv Stellar structure, interiors, evolution, nucleosynthesis, ages

Student understanding of the work‐energy and impulse‐momentum theorems

Ronald A. Lawson and Lillian C. McDermott

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 811 | Cited 16 times

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Student understanding of the impulse‐momentum and work‐energy theorems was assessed by performance on tasks requiring the application of these relationships to the analysis of an actual motion. The participants in the study were undergraduates enrolled in either the honors section of a calculus‐based introductory physics course or in the regular algebra‐based course. The students were asked to compare the changes in momentum and kinetic energy of two frictionless dry‐ice pucks as they moved rectilinearly under the influence of the same constant force. The results of the investigation revealed that most of the students were unable to relate the algebraic formalism learned in class to the simple motion that they observed.
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01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Solutions to Laplace’s equation using spreadsheets on a personal computer

T. T. Crow

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 817 | Cited 4 times

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Using a spreadsheet routine on a personal computer, we obtain solutions to Laplace’s equation quickly, even with dielectric interfaces present. This provides an alternative to solving electrostatics problems normally dealt with by relaxation methods in fortran programs or Fourier series solutions.
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02.60.Lj Ordinary and partial differential equations; boundary value problems
01.50.ht Instructional computer use
41.20.Cv Electrostatics; Poisson and Laplace equations, boundary-value problems
41.20.Gz Magnetostatics; magnetic shielding, magnetic induction, boundary-value problems

Production of real‐time holographic interferograms

Keith Lubell and Robert Prigo

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 823 | Cited 1 time

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The equipment and procedure needed to produce, view, and record good quality real‐time holographic interferograms in the undergraduate laboratory are described in step‐by‐step detail. Major concerns in the production, processing, and viewing are discussed further. Some investigations are suggested.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
42.40.Kw Holographic interferometry; other holographic techniques

Trouble on the loop‐the‐loop

Peter L. Tea, Jr.

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 826

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Energy considerations give an incorrect value for the minimum height from which a sphere may be released on the approach track of a loop‐the‐loop, assuming that the sphere rolls without slipping. Analytical and graphical methods are described for predicting whether the sphere will negotiate the top of the circular loop for arbitrary conditions of release height and coefficients of friction. Finally, a situation in which a sphere commences to slip immediately upon release is discussed.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

The Hamiltonian formulation of optics

Tetsundo Sekiguchi and Kurt Bernardo Wolf

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 830 | Cited 12 times

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Snell’s law of refraction is a conservation law of optical momentum. In infinitesimal form, it leads directly to the Hamilton equations for geometrical optics. The latter guarantee that the transformation of optical phase space produced by propagation through a medium where the index of refraction is continuously differentiable, is canonical. Discontinuous‐index systems such as refracting surfaces must be treated through a complementary description to show that they are also canonical. They have recently been shown to factorize into two ‘‘root’’ transformations, each depending on the properties of a single medium, and each canonical. This factorization is applicable to reflection off curved mirrors as well.
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42.15.Dp Wave fronts and ray tracing
42.25.Gy Edge and boundary effects; reflection and refraction

Optical diffraction pattern measurements using a self‐scanning photodiode array interfaced to a microcomputer

James T. Wesley and Anthony F. Behof

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 835 | Cited 2 times

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A system for recording and analyzing optical diffraction patterns using a self‐scanning photodiode array interfaced to a popular microcomputer is described. The detector array consists of 128 photodiodes on 25‐μm centers and is sensitive to light in the visible portion of the spectrum. Details of the interface between the array and an Apple II microcomputer are given. The overall performance of the system is demonstrated for Fresnel diffraction by a single slit.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
42.25.Fx Diffraction and scattering
85.60.Dw Photodiodes; phototransistors; photoresistors

The rolling unrestrained brachistochrone

Ju‐xing Yang, David G. Stork, and David Galloway

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 844

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We have generalized the unrestained brachistochrone problem to include rolling objects in order to construct a demonstration brachistochrone track. Due to the nature of the constraints this well‐posed extremal problem cannot be solved using the techniques of Euler and Lagrange. The solution, parametrized by a measure of the generalized cylinder’s moment of inertia, reduces to that for the (sliding) unrestrained brachistochrone in the limit of vanishing moment of inertia.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
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The date and time of the vernal equinox: A graphical representation of the Gregorian calendar

Ronald Lane Reese and George Y. Chang

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 848

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Abstract Unavailable
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95.30.Sf Relativity and gravitation

Relation between charge density and curvature of surface of charged conductor

Kun‐Mu Liu

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 849 | Cited 1 time

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41.20.Cv Electrostatics; Poisson and Laplace equations, boundary-value problems
41.20.Gz Magnetostatics; magnetic shielding, magnetic induction, boundary-value problems
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A pulser circuit for measuring the speed of light

M. E. Ciholas and P. M. Wilt

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 853 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
06.20.Jr Determination of fundamental constants
84.30.Sk Pulse and digital circuits

Automatic recording for the Cavendish balance

C. W. Fischer, J. L. Hunt, and P. Sawatzky

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 855 | Cited 3 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
07.05.Hd Data acquisition: hardware and software
07.05.Kf Data analysis: algorithms and implementation; data management
07.05.Rm Data presentation and visualization: algorithms and implementation
06.20.Jr Determination of fundamental constants
07.10.-h Mechanical instruments and equipment

A photogate timer for measuring the speed of a bullet

J. W. Harrell, Jr., Lloyd Junkin, and Danny Whitcomb

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 856

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
06.30.Ft Time and frequency
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
85.60.Dw Photodiodes; phototransistors; photoresistors
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Physics Through the 1990s

Physics Survey Committee Author and Ronald Geballe

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 858

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.75.+m Science and society
01.55.+b General physics

Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics

Herbert B. Callen, Author and Robert B. Griffiths

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 860

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.mp Textbooks for undergraduates
05.70.-a Thermodynamics
05.20.Gg Classical ensemble theory

The Mystery of Comets

Fred L. Whipple, Author and Elizabeth Roemer

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 861

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
96.30.Cw Comets

Lasers

Anthony E. Siegman, Author and Robert C. Hilborn

American Journal of Physics -- September 1987 -- Volume 55, Issue 9, pp. 862 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.mm Textbooks for graduates and researchers
42.55.Ah General laser theory
42.60.-v Laser optical systems: design and operation
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