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Nov 1988

Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 967-1055

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American Association of Physics Teachers 1988 Melba Newell Phillips Award Recipient: H. Richard Crane

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 967

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

American Association of Physics Teachers 1988 Millikan Lecture Award Recipient: Robert G. Greenler

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 968

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01.10.Cr Announcements, news, and awards
01.40.-d Education
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries
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Resource Letter FR‐1: Fractals

Alan J. Hurd

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 969 | Cited 4 times

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This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on fractals. Although ‘‘fractal’’ is a relatively new term in science, unifying many new ideas with established ones, its wide application and general popularity have made it one of the fastest growing fields in statistical physics. The letter E after an item indicates elementary level or 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.Kj Handbooks, dictionaries, tables, and data compilations
61.90.+d Other topics in structure of solids and liquids; crystallography (restricted to new topics in section 61)
64.60.A- Specific approaches applied to studies of phase transitions
05.90.+m Other topics in statistical physics, thermodynamics, and nonlinear dynamical systems (restricted to new topics in section 05)

Learning from computers about physics teaching

Edwin F. Taylor

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 975

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Experience with teaching uses of computers and an analogy between education and nutrition help in reexamining the ways physics is taught, both old and new. The levels of 16 ‘‘educational nutrients’’ for four conventional teaching modes (textbooks, lectures, homework/exams, and standard laboratory) and five uses of computers in education (Tutorial, Demonstration/Simulation, Modeling Toolkit, Laboratory Aid, and Student as Programmer) are estimated. This analysis is used to predict some future developments in college physics teaching.
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01.50.ht Instructional computer use
01.40.G- Curricula and evaluation

Measurement of the transition temperature of a high Tc superconductor

John N. Fox, Frederick A. Rustad, and Roger W. Smith

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 980 | Cited 4 times

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The transition temperature of a ceramic superconductor, Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x, is determined using a tunnel diode oscillator.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
74.70.-b Superconducting materials other than cuprates

Nuclear structure and beta decay (1932–1933)

Laurie M. Brown and Helmut Rechenberg

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 982 | Cited 1 time

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Before the discoveries of the neutron and the positron in 1932, the only known fundamental material particles were the electron and the proton (referred to sometimes as ‘‘negative and positive electricity’’), which were also thought to be the only constituents of all matter, including the atomic nucleus. Well‐known nuclear phenomena, especially β decay, seemed to require that nuclei contain electrons, even though their presence violated accepted principles of microscopic physics. During 1932 and 1933, however, the picture changed considerably and the foundation was laid for a future theory of nuclear structure and β decay, with the nucleus composed of only neutrons and protons as fundamental building blocks.
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01.65.+g History of science
21.30.-x Nuclear forces
21.60.-n Nuclear structure models and methods
23.40.Hc Relation with nuclear matrix elements and nuclear structure

Electromagnetic screening by metals

S. Fahy, Charles Kittel, and Steven G. Louie

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 989 | Cited 14 times

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To dispel a widespread but erroneous belief among physicists that the penetration of ac magnetic fields into normal metals is determined by the usual skin depth δ alone, a simple analysis is presented of two problems in each of which a different length scale determines the effective screening. For a cylindrical can of thickness d≪δ and radius R≪λ, where λ is the wavelength, it is shown that the critical thickness for effective screening is dc =δ2/R. For a planar film with thickness d≪δ, dc =c/2πσ, where σ is the conductivity. An exact analysis is also presented of the screening for a cylinder of arbitrary thickness, as well as an analogy between screening by normal metals and screening by superconductors.
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41.20.Gz Magnetostatics; magnetic shielding, magnetic induction, boundary-value problems
74.25.Ha Magnetic properties including vortex structures and related phenomena
75.90.+w Other topics in magnetic properties and materials (restricted to new topics in section 75)

Optoelectronic seismograph using a Michelson interferometer with a sliding mirror

Germán Da Costa, Gerardo Kiedansky, and Ricardo Siri

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 993

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An optoelectronic system allowing real‐time measurement and recording of 1‐D mechanical vibrations is presented. The essential element is a Michelson interferometer, one of whose mirrors is mounted on a freely sliding carrier. In that way, oscillations of the interferometer base (which is fixed to a vibrating structure) produce light‐intensity variations at the interferometer output. Light‐intensity variations are detected by a phototransistor and stored in a microcomputer memory. The stored signal is numerically processed to obtain the amplitude and frequency of mechanical oscillations.
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
07.60.Ly Interferometers
06.30.Bp Spatial dimensions (e.g., position, lengths, volume, angles, and displacements)
85.60.-q Optoelectronic devices

The Compton effect: As the ‘‘progenitor’’ of quantal concepts (including the uncertainty principles)

R.Ömür Akyüz

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 997

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It is shown that, taken as an empirical fact, the Compton effect may directly lead to the Planck–Einstein and Heisenberg uncertainty relations, by an elementary corpuscular assumption and essentially obvious stipulations on the natures of electrons and monochromatic electromagnetic radiation.
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03.65.Ta Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory

Are dilute solutions always dilute?

M. Gitterman

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1000 | Cited 3 times

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Near the critical points of a binary mixture a solution is never ‘‘dilute.’’ The correct formula for the solvent’s chemical potential requires the fulfillment of some thermodynamic relations near the liquid–gas critical point, which have been proven experimentally. The enhanced solubility of solids in supercritical fluid is analyzed.
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82.60.Lf Thermodynamics of solutions

Numerical path integration without Monte Carlo

Christopher C. Gerry and J. Kiefer

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1002 | Cited 4 times

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A numerical procedure for evaluating Feynman’s path integral in imaginary time without using the Monte Carlo ‘‘heat bath’’ method is discussed. The method is essentially iterative matrix multiplication and bears a close resemblance to the Feynman procedure of summing all paths by time slicing and then integrating. The procedure is used to determine ground‐state energy eigenvalues for the harmonic oscillator, double‐well anharmonic oscillator, and the Morse oscillator.
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03.65.Db Functional analytical methods
03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states
02.60.Jh Numerical differentiation and integration

Rainbow dust

Frank S. Crawford

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1006 | Cited 1 time

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Beautiful ‘‘rainbows’’ produced by tiny glass spheres are described.
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42.25.Gy Edge and boundary effects; reflection and refraction
42.70.Ce Glasses, quartz

The division of the Martian eccentricity from Hipparchos to Kepler: A history of the approximations to Kepler motion

James Evans

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1009

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Any planetary theory with pretensions of quantitative validity must grapple with the inequality of movement due to Kepler motion. This was so in antiquity no less than today. The technical details of six historically important planetary models are discussed. The relationships of the models to one another and to the real motions of the planets are examined with simple geometrical techniques. The discussion centers on the history of the attempts to provide a model for the motion of Mars.
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95.80.+p Astronomical catalogs, atlases, sky surveys, databases, retrieval systems, archives, etc.
95.10.Ce Celestial mechanics (including n-body problems)
96.30.Gc Mars
96.12.De Orbital and rotational dynamics
96.15.De Orbital and rotational dynamics

Oscillations of a suspended chain

Rick Bylsma, Nguyen Ai, and D. A. Van Baak

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1024 | Cited 1 time

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The venerable problem is considered of finding the natural frequencies of small oscillations about the equilibrium configuration of a suspended chain, under the assumptions of a continuous, perfectly flexible, inextensible, and lossless chain, supported at two fixed endpoints in a uniform gravitational field. A variety of analytical, variational, and numerical methods gives results that are valid over the full range of chain span‐to‐length ratios, including the limiting cases of very slack and very taut chains. Some surprising predictions of the theory are confirmed by experimental data.
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Minimally relativistic Newtonian gravity

T. Biswas

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1032 | Cited 3 times

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Special relativity is introduced into the theory of Newtonian gravity in a systematic manner. The modifications of Newtonian gravity that are made can be seen to be minimal for special relativistic covariance. Space is assumed to be flat. Particle trajectories are determined from a Hamiltonian formulation with a tensor potential hμν. The tensor nature of the potential is justified by requiring Lorentz covariance alone. Nongeneral relativistic field equations for the hμν are obtained. The static, spherically symmetric solutions of these equations are shown to produce the correct values for the precession of the orbit of Mercury and the bending of light near the Sun.
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03.30.+p Special relativity
04.50.-h Higher-dimensional gravity and other theories of gravity

On Feynman’s formula for the electromagnetic field of an arbitrarily moving charge

A. R. Janah, T. Padmanabhan, and T. P. Singh

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1036 | Cited 2 times

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A simple derivation of Feynman’s formula for the electromagnetic field of an arbitrarily moving charge, starting from Maxwell’s equations, is presented. Feynman’s formula is also related to the standard expressions for the fields of a moving charge.
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03.50.De Classical electromagnetism, Maxwell equations
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Zero permeability of a high Tc superconductor demonstrated with a piece of cork and some salty water

S. Reich

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1039 | Cited 3 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
74.25.Ha Magnetic properties including vortex structures and related phenomena
74.70.-b Superconducting materials other than cuprates

Comment on ‘‘Numerical methods in mechanics’’ [Am. J. Phys. 52, 499 (1984)]

Margaret Stautberg Greenwood

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1040

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Abstract Unavailable
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45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems
01.50.ht Instructional computer use

Stroboscopic views of regular and chaotic orbits

Yoel Cohen, Sharon Katz, Asher Peres, Eyal Santo, and Ronen Yitzhaki

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1042

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Hydrodynamic mass

K. Thompson

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1043 | Cited 2 times

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Abstract Unavailable
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83.10.Ff Continuum mechanics
47.32.Ef Rotating and swirling flows

General Compton effect via a Lorentz transformation

Daniel Wilkins

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1044

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Abstract Unavailable
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03.30.+p Special relativity
13.66.-a Lepton-lepton interactions

A microscopic picture of Reynolds number and Stokes’ law

Edward H. Carlson

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1045

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Abstract Unavailable
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47.15.-x Laminar flows
47.27.Cn Transition to turbulence

An illustration of buoyancy in the horizontal plane

Alan L. Lehman and Thomas A. Lehman

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1046

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
47.32.Ef Rotating and swirling flows

A simple measurement of string motion

Rodney C. Cross

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1047

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.50.Pa Laboratory experiments and apparatus
43.40.Cw Vibrations of strings, rods, and beams
43.40.Yq Instrumentation and techniques for tests and measurement relating to shock and vibration, including vibration pickups, indicators, and generators, mechanical impedance

Erratum: Resource Letter GI‐1: Gauge invariance [Am. J. Phys. 56, 586 (1988)].

T.P. Cheng and Ling‐Fong Li

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1048

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Rr Surveys and tutorial papers; resource letters
11.15.-q Gauge field theories
11.30.-j Symmetry and conservation laws
99.10.Cd Errata
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Three Hundred Years of Gravitation

S. W. Hawking, Editor, W. Israel, Editor, and Bryce De Witt

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1050

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.65.+g History of science
04.90.+e Other topics in general relativity and gravitation (restricted to new topics in section 04)

Chaos, Making a New Science

James Gleick, Author and Robert C. Hilborn

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1053 | Cited 1 time

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
05.45.-a Nonlinear dynamics and chaos
01.70.+w Philosophy of science

Riemann, Topology, and Physics

Michael Monastyrsky, Author and Mark A. Peterson

American Journal of Physics -- November 1988 -- Volume 56, Issue 11, pp. 1054

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Abstract Unavailable
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01.30.Ee Monographs and collections
01.60.+q Biographies, tributes, personal notes, and obituaries
02.40.Ky Riemannian geometries
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