Check out the Web site http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/ncsaapt/.

Our guest speaker will be Chris Chiaverina, President of the AAPT, and co-author of Light Science and Teaching Light and Color (with Tom Rossing, a former guest speaker at NCS-AAPT.) The February 2002 issue of "The Physics Teacher" has much more information on pages 68-69. I have attended his talks and they have been great!

Registration will begin at 6:00 pm at SciWorks, 400 West Hanes Mill Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, (336) 767-6730. Chris’ talk will take place from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the SciWorks Auditorium, after which we will get together for ice cream & fixin’ and conversation. At 8:30 pm, Duke Johnson, the Director of Programs at SciWorks, will present a Laser Light Show that will last about 30 minutes.

Arrive early! SciWorks will have an exhibition highlighting the International Space Station that you are welcome to visit.

The Two-Year College group will meet at the Holiday Inn Hanes Mall from 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

We are going to try something that I picked up at the Chicago/Illinois Joint Sections Meeting called "Take Five", a session where you only have to turn in your name to be included (no abstract!) and you have five minutes or less to present your topic. Mary Creason has suggested that physics & food provide an interesting theme. I think that I will tell you of Seymour Rabinovitch’s caramel sauce that goes great over ice cream or cake from only one easily obtained ingredient.

John Risley will be presenting "Rewarding Students for Paying Attention Using WebAssign", Don Collins and Aaron Keegan will present "Video Photography and Analysis of the 2001 Leonid Meteors", Aaron McAlexander will be back with cheap labs and/or labs at a distance, and Joe Heafner will be presenting vPython.

The Davidson College folks have promised a number of papers, so look forward to Physlets. Have you seen Physlets: Teaching Physics with Interactive Curricular Material by Wolfgang Christian and Mario Belloni from Prentice-Hall?

We may also have a visiting professor of physics from Russia talking about physics education at his university.

Send your papers in soon so we can get things together for the program. Encourage your students to attend and present a paper to both gain experience and perhaps win a prize.

Format: 1. Title 2. Presenter(s) 3. Affiliation 4. Address 5. Phone & FAX Numbers 6. e-mail address 7. Short description of paper

Papers are typically 15 minutes. List any special equipment that you may need. Overhead projectors will be available. Send abstracts to Hubisz@unity.ncsu.edu using Word or as a text file. You will immediately be notified if there is a problem. U.S. Mail is certainly acceptable, but the secretary needs time to get the program put together.

Joe Heafner will present vPython

VPython is a unique and free programming environment combination, built upon the Python language, used in Chabay and Sherwood's Matter & Interactions curriculum. Simple and intuitive, VPython provides students with an introduction to programming without having to worry about complicated graphics programming; the emphasis is on modeling physical systems. In this workshop, I will demonstrate several amazing programs used by M&I instructors and then I will take you through the very same introductory programming tutorial that the students use. I am sure you will be amazed at what VPython can do! If you bring a 100Meg Zip disk, I will give you copies of both Python and VPython for you to take home (this will save you some download time).

Jose D’Arruda will present Model-Building with "Stella" Software for Active, Constructive Problem Solving

Using Stella modeling software we will present several examples of dynamical systems, normally studied in first year physics classes, designed to increase student knowledge and understanding of computer modeling and simulation. When structured carefully, the activities can lead to the development of a deeper understanding of the fundamental concepts, as well as more effective problem-solving skills. Stella is a dynamic modeling system in which the user can build models by creating a relational diagram and then assigning values and functions. Stella will produce output in numerical, graphic or meter form. We will show how you can rapidly customize existing models to meet your specific needs in order to illustrate concepts and principles in lectures. Participants will learn how to create their own models and each participant will receive a working demo CD of Stella.

Mary Creason will present One String Electric Guitar

The idea is not original to me, but a great one to steal and share. We've been doing this for the past 3 years and the students think it is a blast. We will need at least 1.5 hours to get a working system. Assemble a 10 component pre-amp, a pickup coil, construct the body and frets, plug into your boombox with speakers. Jam. Attendees will be supplied with their own complete kits and ~10 kits for the preamps/pickup coils to take back to their own schools. Limit of 10 attendees.

I have included a copy of your information file. Please correct as necessary. Especially check area code (many of which have changed) and extended ZIP code. If you have a FAX number, please insert. E-mail addresses are very important, as it will help us cut mailing expenses. If you did not receive an e-mail notice about this meeting then I do not have a valid e-mail address for you. Please send me one as soon as possible! Hubisz@unity.ncsu.edu. You will then be added to the listserv also.

If your mailing label is dated "2002" or greater then your dues are paid at least until April 30, 2002, and you are in our good graces. If not, please send a cheque for $5.00 per year to bring your membership up-to-date and help ensure the viability of the Section. (I note that some regular attendees are a couple of years behind.)

Holiday Inn Hanes Mall, 2008 South Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 Local Phone: (336) 765-6670, Toll Free Reservations: (888) 834-7733

Rooms are reserved at the Holiday Inn Hanes Mall for the evening of Friday March 15^th, 2002. We have reserved 35 double occupancy rooms and 15 single occupancy rooms for the evening. Additional rooms are available if needed. All rooms are $55.50 per night (there is no additional charge for the second person in the double occupancy room). To get this rate, mention that you are with the NCS-AAPT Group. All reservations must be made by March 1^st, 2002 by calling the toll-free number (888) 834-7733. You may check in on Friday afternoon after 3:00 pm and you must check out by 12:00 noon on Saturday. The hotel will serve a complimentary Continental Breakfast on Saturday morning from 6:30 am to 7:30 am in the hotel’s Wachovia Room.

1. You should be traveling east along I-40! Exit I-40 at Exit #189, STRATFORD ROAD.
2. This takes you to STRATFORD ROAD; turn right onto STRATFORD ROAD, then left at the first stoplight, which is HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
3. Follow HANES MALL BOULEVARD for 1.3 miles until it intersects SILAS CREEK PARKWAY. Turn left onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY, and then turn RIGHT at the second stoplight onto SOUTH HAWTHORNE ROAD.
4. The Holiday Inn will be on your immediate left.

1. You should be traveling west along I-40! Exit I-40 at Exit #190, HANES MALL BLVD.
2. This takes you to HANES MALL BOULEVARD; turn RIGHT onto HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
3. Travel down HANES MALL BOULEVARD to the third stoplight, where it intersects SILAS CREEK PARKWAY. Turn LEFT onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY, and then turn RIGHT at the second stoplight at the Exxon gas station onto SOUTH HAWTHORNE ROAD.
4. The Holiday Inn will be on your immediate left.

1. Exit the Holiday Inn by turning RIGHT onto SOUTH HAWTHORNE ROAD, then travel 0.1 miles to SILAS CREEK PARKWAY.
2. Turn LEFT onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY and travel 1.8 miles to MILLER STREET. Turn RIGHT onto MILLER STREET. As you drive down MILLER STREET, ARDMORE HALL will be the first building on your left, followed by the ALLMAN CENTER. Turn LEFT into the ALLMAN CENTER parking lot, where you may park.

1. Note: SciWorks is located north of Winston-Salem, just off HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH!
2. You should be traveling east along I-40!
3. Exit I-40 at Exit #193B. This exit takes you to HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH, heading towards Mount Airy.
4. Merge onto HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH and travel 10.0 miles to Exit #116 for HANES MILL ROAD. Take Exit #116 to merge onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD.
5. Turn RIGHT onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD, crossing over HIGHWAY US-52. At the first stoplight, turn LEFT onto Museum Drive, and then make an immediate RIGHT into the SciWorks parking lot.
6. The entrance to SciWorks is a glass door located at the bottom of the parking lot beside the cylindrically shaped part of the building.

1. Note: SciWorks is located north of Winston-Salem, just off HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH!
2. You should be traveling west along I-40!
3. Exit I-40 at Exit #193B. This exit takes you to HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH, heading towards Mount Airy.
4. Merge onto HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH and travel 10.0 miles to Exit #116 for HANES MILL ROAD. Take Exit #116 to merge onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD.
5. Turn RIGHT onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD, crossing over HIGHWAY US-52. At the first stoplight, turn LEFT onto Museum Drive, and then make an immediate RIGHT into the SciWorks parking lot.
6. The entrance to SciWorks is a glass door located at the bottom of the parking lot beside the cylindrically shaped part of the building.

1. Exit the Holiday Inn by turning RIGHT onto SOUTH HAWTHORNE ROAD, then travel 0.1 miles to SILAS CREEK PARKWAY.
2. Turn LEFT onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY and travel to the second stoplight at HANES MALL BOULEVARD. Turn RIGHT onto HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
3. Go through three stoplights until you see a sign for I-40 EAST at the fourth light. Turn LEFT onto the I-40 EAST on-ramp.
4. Exit I-40 at Exit #193B. This exit takes you to HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH, heading towards Mount Airy.
5. Merge onto HIGHWAY US-52 NORTH and travel 10.0 miles to Exit #116 for HANES MILL ROAD. Take Exit #116 to merge onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD.
6. Turn RIGHT onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD, crossing over HIGHWAY US-52. At the first stoplight, turn LEFT onto Museum Drive, and then make an immediate RIGHT into the SciWorks parking lot.
7. The entrance to SciWorks is a glass door located at the bottom of the parking lot beside the cylindrically shaped part of the building.

1. Exit SciWorks by turning LEFT on Museum Drive, immediately reaching a stoplight. Turn RIGHT at the light onto WEST HANES MILL ROAD. Travel 0.2 miles, then turn LEFT on the on-ramp for HIGHWAY US-52 SOUTH towards Winston-Salem.
2. Merge onto HIGHWAY US-52 SOUTH and travel 9.8 miles to Exit #107B, heading WEST to Statesville. Take Exit #107B to merge onto I-40 West.
3. Exit I-40 at Exit #190, HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
4. This takes you to HANES MALL BOULEVARD; turn right onto HANES MALL BOULEVARD.

1. Travel down HANES MALL BOULEVARD to the third stoplight, where it intersects SILAS CREEK PARKWAY. Turn left onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY, and then turn RIGHT at the second stoplight at the Exxon gas station onto SOUTH HAWTHORNE ROAD.
2. The Holiday Inn will be on your immediate left.

1. You should be traveling east along I-40! Exit I-40 at Exit #189, STRATFORD ROAD.
2. This takes you to STRATFORD ROAD; turn right onto STRATFORD ROAD, then left at the first stoplight, which is HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
3. Follow HANES MALL BOULEVARD for 1.3 miles, staying in the right hand lane, until it intersects SILAS CREEK PARKWAY. Turn RIGHT onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY.
4. Travel 1.7 miles down SILAS CREEK PARKWAY to MILLER STREET. Turn RIGHT onto MILLER STREET. As you drive down MILLER STREET, ARDMORE HALL will be the first building on your left, followed by the ALLMAN CENTER. Turn LEFT into the ALLMAN CENTER parking lot, where you may park.

1. You should be traveling west along I-40! Exit I-40 at Exit #190, HANES MALL BLVD.
2. This takes you to HANES MALL BOULEVARD; turn right onto HANES MALL BOULEVARD.
3. Travel down HANES MALL BOULEVARD to the third stoplight, where it intersects SILAS CREEK PARKWAY. Turn RIGHT onto SILAS CREEK PARKWAY.
4. Travel 1.7 miles down SILAS CREEK PARKWAY to MILLER STREET. Turn RIGHT onto MILLER STREET. As you drive down MILLER STREET, ARDMORE HALL will be the first building on your left, followed by the ALLMAN CENTER. Turn LEFT into the ALLMAN CENTER parking lot, where you may park.

There is a $100 prize for the best undergraduate student paper, a $100 prize for the best graduate student paper, and a prize of $150 towards expenses to present a similar paper at a national meeting suitably noting the support of the NCS-AAPT for the best pedagogical paper. Please keep notes and make recommendations to any section officer to aid in their choice. Hugh Haskell is chairman of the Awards Committee. A new award designed to recognize superior undergraduate students has been established that carries with it an award of $100. There is also the Walter C. Connolly Award ("An award to recognize outstanding pre-college teachers in the Section.") We thank our sponsors for contributing to support these awards.

Last Fall Meeting, Sam Hendrix won $100 for the best undergraduate student paper and Aaron Titus won the prize for the best pedagogical paper.

Ruth Chabay and Bruce Sherwood will be starting at North Carolina State University on June 1, 2002.

What do you think of Lifetime Memberships? Say, $100. Anyone paid ahead would have that amount deducted from the $100 and those in arrears would add those years to the $100. The idea will be on the agenda.

The North Carolina Health Physics folks would like to have a joint meeting with us. Their meetings are in Wilmington in the Spring and Asheville in the Fall. They usually meet in a hotel. All comments about arranging such a meeting, please contact me as soon as possible. This is still an agenda item. We will be meeting at UNC Asheville on November 1-2, 2002.

The Southern Atlantic Coast Section of the AAPT meets at Gainesville College in Gainesville GA on April 5-6, 2002. There is a March 19^th deadline for papers. For other information contact jsharma@gc.peachnet.edu or maasha@bc9000.bc.peachnet.edu or try http://astro.physics.sc.edu/SACS/home.html

From March 12^th to the 17th, Michael Frayn’s play Copenhagen (about Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg) will be shown by a Broadway touring company at the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh.  Further, it is likely (not yet definite) that NCSU will host a panel discussion on the physics and history surrounding the play on March 16th. 

Our Fall Meeting will be a joint meeting with SACS-AAPT and the SPS at UNC – Asheville. Our invited speaker will be Edwin Taylor of MIT.

Encourage your colleagues to fill out a Membership Application.

Nominations for the positions of the Pre-College Representative and Vice-President are being sought for the election at the Spring 2002 Meeting.

I HOPE THAT SOME WILL FOLLOW SOON!

Pre-registration (Fill in the form included with this mailing! Or download the form PreRegistration) is always important for our hosts. We prefer to know early roughly how many will attend. Even if you do not take advantage of early registration, please send a note to the secretary-treasurer that you intend to be at the meeting.

Registration costs at the meeting will be higher! Deadline is March 5, 2002.

The meeting rooms will be in Ardmore Hall at Forsyth Technical Community College. Registration will take place outside the meeting rooms.

Coffee & doughnuts will be available Saturday morning.

There will also be a make your own lunch at noon. Participants can make their own deli sandwiches from the following items:

Side Dishes: Homemade Pasta Salad & Homemade Potato Salad

Beverages: Assorted sodas, sweet tea, unsweetened tea

Desserts: Assortment of cookies and brownies

There is no charge for space at the meeting. We do accept donations towards refreshments and door prizes. If you do not intend to send a representative, we are willing to display your materials. Please note that your sponsorship includes registration and all that goes with it.

Support our exhibitors and thank them for their support.

American Association of Physics Teachers

Bernard O. Beck & Co.

Forsyth Technical Community College

John Wiley & Sons

North Carolina State University

Physics Academic Software

Prentice-Hall Publishers

Spectrum Techniques

TEL-Atomic

Thomson Learning (Harcourt)

Vernier Software

Chuck Stone & Students