The Physics Teacher

Magazine Overview

Title: The Physics Teacher
Issue: Volume 19, Issue 19
Date: September 1981
Publisher: American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
Country: USA
Language: English

Main Article: The Null Hypothesis for Unidentified Flying Objects

This issue prominently features an article by Theodore Spickler, titled "The null hypothesis for unidentified flying objects." This article serves as a review of Robert Sheaffer's book, "The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence," published by Prometheus Books in 1981. Spickler, affiliated with West Liberty State College, West Virginia, discusses Sheaffer's skeptical stance on UFO phenomena.

Spickler highlights Sheaffer's argument that UFO sighting reports often create "an anecdotal fog of ambiguity." Sheaffer is presented as a vigorous proponent of the view that "nothing of significance lurks behind the often sensational claims of UFO witnesses." Spickler notes that Sheaffer skillfully presents a "null hypothesis," demonstrating how skepticism can weave a believable pattern from the available data. The article suggests that UFOs, from this perspective, fall into the realm of folklore, akin to fairies or the Easter bunny.

However, Spickler also acknowledges that Sheaffer "could also be wrong" and that ridicule "only goes so far before sounding somewhat strained." He points out Sheaffer's tendency to dismiss extensive research, such as the contents of the Air Force's Project Blue Book files, with brief statements. Spickler mentions John Ball's "zoo hypothesis" as an example of scientific curiosity about extraterrestrial contact that Sheaffer might overlook.

Despite these critiques, Spickler concludes that "The UFO Verdict should be in every library and available to all students as a balance to the deluge of popular pabulum passing as an alternative to solid science." The article is accompanied by references to other works on UFOs by Philip Klass, J. Allen Hynek, and Brad Steiger, as well as a scientific article by John Ball.

Book Reviews

The magazine includes several book reviews relevant to physics and science education:

"Physics - With Lots of Engineering"

This review, by James B. Gerhart of the University of Washington, discusses "Physics for Technical Education" by Dale Ewen and LeRoy Heaton (Prentice-Hall, 1981). Gerhart notes that the text covers standard introductory physics topics but has a strong engineering emphasis. He observes that the book quickly moves from introducing concepts to presenting formulas, followed by numerical examples, prioritizing problem-solving application over deep conceptual understanding. While acknowledging the authors' effectiveness in providing worked-out examples and consistent use of metric units, Gerhart suggests that students might manipulate formulas without fully grasping the underlying principles. The text is deemed more suitable for those who concentrate on learning facts, particularly with a health science orientation, and less so for those emphasizing scientific and analytical thinking. The layout is described as "tedious."

"The UFO Verdict: Examining the Evidence"

This is the book reviewed by Theodore Spickler, as detailed in the main article summary above. The review itself is presented as a book review within the magazine.

"Horizons: Exploring the Universe"

This review, by Richard E. Michel of Lawrence Institute of Technology, covers "Horizons: Exploring the Universe" by Michael A. Seeds (Wadsworth, 1981). The book is described as an introductory, non-mathematical text. It includes supplementary material like a study guide/workbook, monthly star maps, and observational activities. The text is suitable for a two-semester or a one-semester course, depending on material coverage.

Related Articles

The issue also lists several articles that may be of interest to readers, including:

• "Modeling acousto-elastic waveguide/object scattering with the Rayleigh hypothesis"
• "The unidentified object problem in a shallow ocean"
• "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects, Aliens in the Sky, UFO's? Yes!: Where the Condon Committee Went Wrong"
• "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects: Final Report of Research Conducted by the University of Colorado for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under the Direction of Edward U. Condon"
• "BOOK AND FILM REVIEWS: The Definitive Treatment: Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around physics education, the critical examination of scientific claims, and the importance of a rigorous, evidence-based approach to understanding phenomena. The editorial stance, particularly evident in Spickler's review, favors skepticism and the scientific method when evaluating topics like UFOs, positioning such phenomena within the realm of folklore or unproven claims rather than established science. The reviews of textbooks also reflect an emphasis on pedagogical effectiveness and the balance between conceptual understanding and practical application in physics education.