Stray Cats in Maryland




Aich and Gifu ( central area in Japan) Physics Circles (Stray Cats) are science education studying groups that have been active with having good influence on each other. The former has a history of 25 years and the later 15 years.

We have always been enterprising and never aging. We have been doing a various investigations, studying and teaching for the purpose of making students enjoy science and know its wonder.
It seems that rapid progress of science and technology has detached science from the people and has created unknown BLACK BOX. This situation let students think what they learn at school will do only in the text book and special experiments. We have been thinking simple, interesting and essential experiments are important and to be investigated. We write down here how they work in the classroom.


1, They show Physics exists everywhere Rules of Physics are universal. So it is natural to see physics is filled in our life, play sports etc. It is effective to use things around us and present simple experiments.








2, They achieve the rolls of scientific cognition and the systematic formation of concept Students understand the concepts and rules more profoundly through their cognitive activities. We should demonstrate or let the students do various experiments with changing the materials.





3, Subjectivity and creativity are easy to exhibit by using them Students can challenge to the experiments themselves by their hands, brain and body. They build break or modify the instruments at their own will in their own way.




4. The simpler the experiments becomes, the more clearly its substance can seen Simplification makes the scope of appreciation enlarge. A more complicated and specified experiment make it more to understand its substance.
( AAPT 1996 Summer Meeting in College Park, Maryland )

[Illustrated by Hiroji Okumura]




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