Evoweb: The EvoNet Online Tutorial
http://evonet.dcs.napier.ac.uk/evoweb/resources/flying_circus/tutorials/online_tutorial/index.html
This tutorial on evolutionary computation is offered by an authority on the subject, the European Network of Excellence in Evolutionary Computing. As the name implies, evolutionary computation is based on natural processes. For example, an emphasis of the tutorial is on genetic algorithms, which evolve by taking the best characteristics of preceding generations. This is analogous to living organisms, where offspring have many traits of their parents. Some historical information related to the development of evolutionary computation and its subdivisions is provided, but most of the material describes the processes and operations of various techniques. [CL]
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PSpice Tutorials
http://rock.uta.edu/dillon/pspice/
Spice is a language used to describe and model electrical circuits. A derivative of the language is PSpice, which is one of the most widely used tools for simulating circuit components and various parameters. The tutorials presented on this Web site of the University of Texas at Arlington provide a thorough overview of PSpice. Examples of proper syntax are given, beginning with the basic notation used to describe connectivity within a circuit. Various circuit elements are then introduced, and the process of performing transient analysis is given. The only concept that is not addressed in these tutorials is the specification of transistors, but this might be more advanced than the intended audience. [CL]
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MathMastery.com: Daily Brains
http://www.mathmastery.com/dailybrains/
Six days a week, a new math problem is posted on this Web site to intrigue and challenge grade school students. Each Daily Brain has a different theme, considering some mathematical perspective of science, history, geography, and more. After solving the problem, or for a little help, students can look at a step-by-step solution that is also posted online. All old Daily Brains are kept in an archive, and as of May 2003, they numbered around 400. The problems are mostly intended for students between fourth and sixth grades. [CL]
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Beyond Discovery: The Code War [.pdf]
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.article.asp?a=3420
This fascinating article explores the history and development of cryptography. Published in February 2003 by a division of the National Academy of Sciences, the article has substantial information on the applications of encryption in today's wired world. Additionally, it looks back at some of the most important breakthroughs related to number theory, spanning over two millennia. Some mildly technical descriptions of cryptographic techniques are included, but they are suitable for most audiences. Although the article can be downloaded as a single file, the online version includes an integrated glossary that defines many terms appearing in the text; users can simply click on the hyperlinked word to see the definition. [CL]
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Linear Algebra [.pdf, .zip]
http://joshua.smcvt.edu/linearalgebra/
A mathematics professor from Saint Michael's College is the author of this free online textbook about linear algebra. Being just shy of 450 pages, the book is very comprehensive and of high quality. It gives an excellent introduction into topics such as vector spaces, linear systems, and determinants, and the author is quite good at defining a consistent notation throughout the book. Each chapter has several examples that demonstrate the concepts, concluding with exercises to be solved by the reader. Solutions to the exercises are given in a separate file. [CL]
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Walk Through a Hydroelectric Project
http://www.fwee.org/walk.html
The Foundation for Water and Energy Education offers this informative guide to hydroelectric power. To begin with, users can tour a hydroelectric dam by clicking on successive systems shown in a diagram. This part of the guide is somewhat lacking in content, as it is mainly illustrations with little explanation. However, the rest of the guide is more illuminating. Other sections show users how dams can accommodate fish, and a more specific description of a hydropower generator is also available. One of the best resources is the timeline, which charts many of the most important developments in hydropower since 500 BC. [CL]
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Complex Numbers and Trigonometry [.pdf]
http://www.thiel.edu/mathproject/CNAT/Default.htm
Complex numbers have applications in many applied sciences. This online text begins with an introduction to trigonometry, which serves as a starting point for additional discussion about complex numbers (also known as imaginary numbers). The drawings and figures are the only notable downside to this excellent resource, because many of them are somewhat crude; however, they are still fairly easy to follow. The book can be read online or downloaded for offline viewing. [CL]
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An Introduction to Programming Languages
http://www.acooke.org/andrew/writing/lang.html
Anyone who already knows one programming language and is considering learning another will find this site very helpful. "It describes some of the differences between common programming languages and considers why and how a new language should be learnt." Furthermore, it provides a set of classifications that can easily be used to identify which language is the most appropriate for the programmer's needs. In this respect, the material defines such concepts as threads, data structures, and object oriented programming. It does not provide excessive details about any single language; rather, it simply serves as a guide to evolve into a more well-rounded programmer. [CL]
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