Physics Demo Manual

Demonstrations are cataloged according to PIRA Bibliography

PLEASE REQUEST DEMOS WELL IN ADVANCE

Due to Physics Building renovations, the lead time to set up demo requests has increased due to the need to transport equipment across campus. Please be kind and let me know well ahead of time what you need.

Choose a Topic or Enter a keyword to search:

Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Oscillations And Waves
Thermodynamics
Electricity And Magnetism
Optics
Modern Physics
Audio-Visual
New or Modified Entries (within the last month)

I cannot find what I want!

You have selected the following Demos:

None Selected

Choose a subtopic:
(Clicking a green button will add that demo to your list)

Harmonic Motion: video - Pendula, Spring and Simple; Pendula, Conical and Torsional; video - Pendula, Physical (Center of Percussion); Projected Uniform Circular Motion; Damped Mass on Spring; video - Forced Oscillations; Hacksaw Blade Resonance; video - Resonance Wire Ring; video - Inverted Pendulum - Function Generator; Inverted Pendulum - Reciprocating Saw; Coupled Pendulum Oscillators; Coupled Magnetic Oscillations; Coupled Harmonic Oscillators; Lissajous Figures on the Scope; Lissajous Fifures with Laser; Parametric Amplifier / Oscillator
Waves
Acoustics
Instruments

Pendula, Conical and Torsional

Procedure:

These pendula demonstrations are not as straight - forward as the simple and spring pendula. For example, finding the torsional constant, K, of the rod, takes time and is really not feasible in the classroom. It is much easier to measure T and calculate the torsional constant. Measuring the angle of a conical pendulum is slightly difficult whereas measuring T and calculating 0 is much easier.

Equipment:

Timer
Meter Stick
Simple Pendulum
Stand
Support Rod
Torsional disc