Snippets of physics

The Foucault pendulum is an elegant device that demonstrates the rotation of the Earth. After describing it, we will elaborate on an interesting geometrical relationship between the dynamics of the Foucault pendulum and Thomas precession discussed in the last installment¹. This will help us to understand both phenomena better. T Padmanabhan works at IUCAA, Pune and is interested in all areas of theoretical physics, especially those which have something to do with gravity.     

Education for Labour in Czechoslovakia: the shifting sands of responsibility

Vocational training in secondary schools is currently coming under close scrutiny in Czechoslovakia, and every secondary school is now charged with providing at least a measure of vocational training. At a time when vocational training in British secondary education is being given a much higher profile than ever before, there may be lessons to learn from Eastern European experience. It is the purpose of this article to describe the Czechoslovak system of vocational training at secondary level, to discern some of the problems which it faces, and to identify trends in vocationalism in Czechoslovakia for the 1990s.     

The representation and attainment of students with dyslexia in UK higher education

Using a database of allstudents in higher education in the UK in1995–1996, students with dyslexia and those withno reported disability were compared in termsof demographic properties, programmes of studyand academic attainment. Students with dyslexiaconstituted 0.42% of all students resident inthe UK. Their representation varied with age,gender, ethnicity and entrance qualificationsand with their level, mode and subject ofstudy. Students with dyslexia were more likelyto withdraw during their first year of studyand were less likely to complete theirprogrammes of study, although with appropriatesupport the completion rate of students withdyslexia can match that of students with nodisabilities. In addition, students withdyslexia who completed first-degree programmestended to gain a poorer class of honours thanstudents with no reported disability, but 40%obtained first-class or upper second-classhonours. In short, dyslexia may havedeleterious consequences for progression,completion and achievement in higher education,but it is by no means incompatible with a highlevel of success, given appropriate commitmenton the part of the students and appropriateresources on the part of their institution.     

职业教育和技术教育辨析

资本主义社会的二分法造就了教育的双轨学制,并使得职业教育概念狭义化;而在双轨学制基础上形成的三分法,又进一步造成了职业教育和技术教育的分野.了解职业教育概念变化过程中深刻的历史文化根源,有助于我们弄清"什么是职业教育"这一根本问题.     

论文化全球化与中华民族传统体育文化的自觉

以文化全球化为逻辑切入点,从宏观的角度论述了全球化语境下民族传统体育文化自觉的必要性和表现形式,指出民族传统体育文化自觉的过程,也就是对中华民族传统体育文化继承和超越的过程。只有用理性的思维意识来认识中华民族传统体育文化,通过交流融合、互渗与互补,才能融入全球体育文化的潮流。     

用科学理论研究技术问题时强化建立模型的概念

化工原理是一门化工技术基础课程。该课程的内容是利用某些自然科学的原理,研究化学工程中通用的基本规律,研究分析各种化工单元操作的基本原理和典型化工设备的结构原理,给出工艺过程设计和设备设计的计算方法。化工原理课程研究化工过程中的原理及规律时,多采用建立“模型”的工程研究方法。正确地建立所研究对象的模型是描述问题和解决问题的关键,是工程思想方法的精髓。在课程教学中强化研究工程问题时建立模型的概念,对于培养学生利用基础科学理论研究工程问题的能力,建立工程思想方法有着重要的意义。     

纳米技术应用动态与纳米经济前景展望

仅仅在10年前,“纳米”(Nanometer)这一概念还鲜为人知,可如今它已以同“网络”、“基因”一起成了出现频率最高的三大高科技名词之一。那么,纳米究竟是什么呢?纳米本是尺寸大小的度量单位,1个纳米(nm)等于十亿分之一(10~(-9))米,约     

A conceptual model of taste receptors

Of all the senses, that of taste is perhaps the hardest to define and quantify and elucidation of the underlying mechanisms is unrespondingly difficult. This article describes a conceptual model — at the molecular level — for the four basic taste modalities, using apparent specific volume as a fundamental parameter. It also considers possible practical applications.     

Computer-aided map-making

Attempts to represent a spherical surface on a plane sheet, so that individual points stand in a proper relation to each other as regards both distance and direction, have occupied cartographers since the time of Ptolemy. Later, as maps were required not only as an aid to travel by land or navigation by sea an increasing amount of detail had to be incorporated in them. By traditional methods this was a difficult and time-consuming process, but very recently the use of the computer has pointed the way to the production of better maps more quickly and more cheaply.