Reviews
Structured questions
for GCSE physics
by Tony York
92pp. (price not given),
ISBN 0340 421754,
Hodder & Stoughton
This book provides 82 structured questions
in physics claiming to meet the needs of
GCSE National Criteria for Physics
relating to social, environmental and
economic aspects of physics, as well as to
the knowledge and understanding of the
subject in a technological context. To both
predict the type of questions that would be
presented to meet these GCSE criteria,
and produce this number of questions
designed to meet this need, was a very
demanding task. The result is that the
questions actually produced are of
varying quality. Many are excellent and
meet the perceived needs of GCSE
candidates; however, others are really
only a reorganisation of some very
traditional, knowledge-oriented-type
questions.
Used selectively, the questions in this
book will provide stimulating practice for
prospective GCSE physics candidates.
Graded examples for
GCSE physics
byC.B.Folland
94pp. (price not given),
ISBN 07195 43371
John Murray
One can only be surprised that there is still
a marketfor this type of book and
disappointed that there are any science
teachers who would still consider
purchasing it! It would appear that very
little other than the title has changed in
response to GCSE. It comprises a series of
very dull numerical questions, which I hope
will not be representative of the examining
style of GCSE.
Teach yourself
physics
by David Bryant
264pp. £3.95,
ISBN 0340 37958 8,
Hodder & Stoughton
As the title would suggest this book is
intended for the layman who wishes to find
out more about physics, at a fairly
fundamental level. It addresses the basic
content areas of physics in a rather
traditional mannerwithoutan
42
Reviews
overemphasis on mathematics, and the
everyday applications of physics are
rather neglected. It is well illustrated with
many line diagrams and a few black and
white photographs.
It is a readable text and would act well
as a refresher course for anyone who has
followed a traditional physics programme,
but would have its limitations as a
preparation for current GCSE
examinations in physics.
GCSE physics
(Longman Revise
Guides)
by Colin Maunder
230pp. £5.95,
ISBN 0582 01576 6,
Longman
An excellent text that has been prepared
specifically as a revision guide for GCSE
physics. The contents of each chapter are
clearly outlined at the beginning and a
constant format is sustained throughout
the book. This includes 'essential
principles', 'applied materials',
'examination questions', 'outline answers'
'tutors questions and answers', 'ideas for
investigation' and 'student's answer—
examiner's comment'. There is also a
section on examination technique and a
'pull-out' revision planner.
This book would appear to provide a
well structured revision programme for
any student but would be especially
valuable for those who lacked the
planning skills to devise one of their own.
GCSE physics (Quick
Check Study Guides)
by John Avison and Jane
Cartledge
160pp. £4.50,
ISBN 017448151 9,
Nelson
An economically organised revision text,
with topics confined to double A4 spread
and supported by a variety of revision
questions. All the information is expressed
in concise terms and generally well
supported by relevant line diagrams.
Sometimes the information given is
constrained by this required
presentational format, but this is probably
an inevitable compromise.
The text also includes advice on
examination and revision techniques as
well as an analysis of the content of GCSE
physics syllabuses currently available.
This text would again appear to provide
a comprehensive and well structured
revision programme in GCSE physics for
those students who are unable or unwilling
to devise their own.
All the above reviewed by
Phil Munson
Kent Science and Technology Centre
Sittingbourne
Digital system fault
finding
by Jenny Tizard
Student Workbook £5.50
Lecturers Guide £4.00
Flight Electronics Ltd., 1987, Flight
House, Ascupart Street,
Southampton SOI 1LU
These two books constitute a course
based on the BTEC unit Digital System
Fault Finding Nlll, although parts or all
could easily be used in other contexts. A
practical-based approach is used
throughout, with much of the work based
on a particular microcomputer, the
Microprofessor. This is not such a limitation
as might at first appear, as I was able to
derive much useful and helpful information
from reading the books without access to
a machine.
The introductory chapters contain basic
information on IC chips and test
instruments. Students are given clear
instructions on using logic probes, logic
pulsers, CROs etc., with essential
information about the loading effects
these instruments cause. Different types of
faults are described and students are
encouraged to be systematic in both
locating and repairing faults and on
record keeping.
The author has provided instructions for
constructing some simple digital circuits
into which a variety of faults can be
deliberately inserted by the lecturer. A set
of such faulty circuits would be a useful
resource for students to check out their
fault-finding skills with the added bonus of
the lecturer knowing in advance what the
faults were!
The last two sections are more
advanced and access to a Microprofessor
is essential to derive full benefit. A detailed
account of both logic analysers and
signature analysers is given, and hence
students will also need access to these
more sophisticated test instruments and
will therefore limit the usefulness of the
book in many schools. Nevertheless the
books would be worth acquiring for
reference alone in an electronics library
and for several worksheets that could be
extracted from the earlier sections of the
Student Workbook.
Reviewed by
Terry Martin
Department of Education
University of Southampton
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS NEWS SPRING 1989