American Association of Physics Teachers
Chesapeake Section

Using Hands-On and Computer Simulation Activities to Teach the Small Particle Model of Matter to Physical Science Students
Cody Sandifer, Towson University, csandifer@towson.edu
In an inquiry-based physical science course, it is difficult to help students "discover" what occurs in phenomena at the atomic or molecular level. However, there are a number of hands-on activities and computer simulations (some commercial, some not) that make student inquiry of small-particle phenomena much easier. This talk demonstrates a number of these activities and simulations. Content topics addressed include conservation of mass, evaporation, chemical reactions, states of matter, and freezing/melting.

An Active Learning Conceptual Physics Course
Bill Warren, Lord Fairfax Community College, lfwarrb@lf.cc.va.us
Explorations in Physics is an activity-based conceptual level physics course which has recently been implemented at Lord Fairfax Community College. Experiences in using this new curriculum will be shared.

The Physics of Fungi
Michael Buck, Towson University
Properties of fungi are of enormous technological and industrial interest. This talk will focus on studies performed using atomic force microscopy to analyze the interaction between fungal spores and substrates, as well as the mechanical properties of fungal hyphae.
Co-authors: David Schaefer, Towson University, Liming Zhao and Mark Marten, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Using Excel as a Checking Program for the General Physics Laboratory
Henry Chen, Towson University, hchen@towson.edu

Demonstrations of Diffraction with a Biological Flavor
Steve Wonnell, Johns Hopkins University, wonnell@pha.jhu.edu
We'll examine a DNA Diffraction model, some demonstrations of diffraction by muscle tissue and by a compound eye, plus a few variations on some tried and true demos.

What'SAT II
Helene Perry, Loyola College, hperry@loyola.edu
In 2002, over 650 Maryland high school students took the SATII Physics test and had a mean score of 647. This will look at what this test is, how it is constructed, and how it may be used by high school students in their college-admission process.

Dirty Bombs: Fact and Fiction
Eric Kearsley, High Point High School, ekearsley@erols.com
This paper will describe the basic characteristics of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) as well as the consequences that can be expected if one of these devices were to be used. A simple calculation of the dose rate as a function of impacted area is derived and the most significant public policy issues related to this problem are identified.

"http://www.physics.udel.edu/csaapt/Spring2003/abstracts.html" Last updated April 13, 2003.