VIRGINIA INSTRUCTORS OF PHYSICS
Volume 7 No. 3 Summer 1993

In this issue:
Fall meeting
Physics Olympics at Kings Dominion Results
Opportunities for Educational Growth
Stuck on Blackboards

Fall meeting is October 1993 @UVa
9:00 - 9:30 Hello's (Coffee and Donuts)
9:30 - 10:30 Introductions
Greetings from our host
Virginia's Public Education Network (VaPEN) Update
VIP Business (Elections)
10:30 - 11:30 Demonstrations and a share session by fellow VIP'ers
Lots of freebies to be handed out
11:30 - 1:00 Lunch (not provided)
1:00 - 3:00 afternoon presentation (To Be Announced)

VIP FALL MEETING at UVA
Did you know there is a computer network that is free to educator in the state? All that is needed to access the network is a modem and a phone. Even the phone call is free! This network allows access to NASA, Academy One, nation wide, Projects, local State wide telecommunications projects, news groups that have daily discussions about physics, math, computers, etc. electronic-mail and much, much, more. Come to the meeting to find out more.
Bring something to share (50 copies of any written material). Bring demo's Class projects, unique teaching strategies.
The registration form will be in the next newsletter due out in September.
The meeting is free and anyone/everyone is invited.
The Physics Olympics was held April 1993 at Paramount's King's Dominion
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL GROWTH

PHYSICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS
The College of William and Mary is proud to announce the continuation of a series of short courses taught by the faculty of the Physics Department
Each course carries one graduate credit. (Graduate tuition $145 per credit.)
The courses are independent: Sign up for one, or any combination of courses.
Meetings are on Thursdays, 6:30 to 9:30 pm in the Conference Room of the William Small Physical Laboratory at the College in Williamsburg. Parking permits will be issued.
The course material will be adapted to the needs of the participants.
Physics 55OA : Refresher Calculus and Vector Arithmetic, Professor John McKnight, Thursdays, September 2 through 23, 1993. A review of the mathematical tools needed for high school physics, including a discussion of why vectors and elementary calculus concepts are part of the language of physics
Physics 550B : The Universe. Its First 100.000 years, Professor Robert Welsh, Thursdays, September 30 through October 21, 1993. A voyage of discovery from the Big Bang to the beginning of the universe as we know it.
Physics 550C : Electricity and Magnetism, Professor Roy Champion, Thursdays, October 28 through November 18, 1993. A review of the basic facts and explanations, with simple demonstration experiments
For information contact: Prof. John L. McKnight, Physics Dept. College of W&M, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795 Tel. (804)221-3521 FAX (804)221-3540
Application: Please in form Prof. McKnight of your intention to sign up. Formal registration will be during the first class. Please bring a check.

Blackboard Tricks

By Tony Wayne
Are your blackboards magnetic? If they are then here are a few lecture tricks you can do. Often when doing presentations on the board I need some arrows that stand out. To accomplish this I have made magnetic arrows. Get a piece of, thin, fluorescent cardboard and a sheet of magnetic material. The magnetic material is the stuff "refrigerator magnets ate made of. It can be found in good craft stores. I found 4" X 6" sheets for $1.49 each at a craft store.
Cut an arrow out of the cardboard that is small enough to fit on the magnetic sheet. Cut out enough for cover the sheet. The peel of the adhesive on the magnetic sheet and stick the arrows to the sheet. Then with very good scissors of a sharp blade. Cut out the arrows.
When teaching projectile motion, cut a brightly colors superball in half with a sharp blade. Stick the magnetic sheet to the flat side of the ball. Have a gifted student draw a picture of an airplane, or get a computer generated picture, cut it out and stick it to the adhesive sheet. Using stronger magnets you can stick toys to the blackboard. Use epoxy to stick heavier ceramic magnets to the heavier toys.
All these techniques work well as attention getters.

Editor: Tony Wayne, Albemarle High School, 2775 Hydraulic Rd, Charlottesville, VA., 2201-8916. Internet address: wayne@uva386.schools.virginia.edu
Published by: Dr. Bascom Deaver, Physics Department, University of Virginia, McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22901.