New PAS Software Attracts Interest With a Dynamic Approach to E&M

September 16, 1992--MAXWELL, Physics Academic Software's newest
award-winning software package for the IBM PC, takes an exciting,
innovative approach to the study of electricity and magnetism in order to
enhance students' understanding of electrodynamic phenomena.

Developed by Pieter B. Visscher of the University of Alabama, MAXWELL
breaks away from more traditional courses in E&M by emphasizing the role
of dynamics as well as statics and displaying the time evolution of
electromagnetic fields in different configurations and devices.

"Since the vast majority of electrodynamics problems cannot be dealt with
analytically, students seldom achieve a degree of familiarity and
computational facility comparable to their statics skills," says Visscher.
"MAXWELL lets them investigate more realistic and interesting
electrodynamics problems than are accessible with analytic solutions of
the Maxwell equations."

Because of its versatility, MAXWELL will benefit students and professionals
alike. It can be used for classroom demonstrations, laboratory sessions,
homework assignments, and independent projects at all levels of study.
Students can view time-dependent simulations of plane waves, solenoids,
capacitors, and magnetron tubes, or they can create their own scenarios.

MAXWELL, which won an award in the 1991 Computers In Physics software
contest, can also be used as a practical engineering design tool for
quick, low-resolution analysis of the behavior of electromagnetic devices.
The algorithm used by MAXWELL is identical to that used by high-resolution
supercomputer antenna design packages like Lawrence Livermore Laboratory's
TSAR Electromagnetic Modeling System.

Reviewer response to MAXWELL has been powerful. "MAXWELL made it possible
for me to visualize things that were only abstractions previously," says
Edward Finkel, Fernbank Science Center. "This is one of the very few
programs of its kind to incorporate numerical techniques in solving
electrodynamics problems," responds A. Shakur, Salisbury State University.
"It is a welcome addition to the repertoire of engineers and physicists."
And A. John Mallinckrodt, California State Polytechnic University,
comments, "This is the kind of software that encourages extended
exploration and that provides abundant insight at every turn."

MAXWELL is published and distributed by Physics Academic Software, a
project of the American Institute of Physics in cooperation with the
American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics
Teachers. It is part of a continuing series of educational software from
PAS.

MAXWELL operates on IBM PC, XT, AT, or PS/2 personal computers with
Hercules, CGA, EGA, or VGA color graphics. A printer is optional and no
math-coprocessor is required.

MAXWELL may be purchased for $59.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling. Lab
Packs, which include ten copies of the software and one User's Manual, are
available for $179.95.

For a limited time, you can purchase the entire PAS collection of 19
titles, with or without Lab Packs, and save up to 33% off the regular
price. Physics Academic Software offers a no-risk guarantee by providing a
full refund for packages returned within 30 days.

Physics Academic Software also offers a Standing Order Plan, which brings
the latest in innovative physics courseware to your door, along with
exceptional savings. When you join the Standing Order Plan, you will
automatically receive each new PAS program, with or without Lab Packs, and
save up to 33% off the list price.

Orders and requests for a free catalog of all Physics Academic Software
titles should be directed to The Academic Software Library, Campus Box
8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 276958202. By
telephone, call (800) 955-TASL or (919) 515-7447; FAX (919) 515-2682.

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