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.

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Electrostatics: video - Kinds of Charge and Charging; video - Attraction and Repulsion Between Charged Objects; video - Charging by Induction; video - Lord Kelvin's Water-Drop Electrostatic Generator; video - Wimshurst Machine; video - Fun Fly Stick; video - Xerox; video - Fluorescent Bulb in Faraday Cage
Electric Fields And Potential
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video - Lord Kelvin's Water-Drop Electrostatic Generator

Purpose:

To demonstrate the build up of static electrical charge via repulsion of electrons in a conductor and ions in the water.

Procedure:

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD w/ sound / 1920x1080 / 24.19Mb/s / 665MB size

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD w/ sound / 854x480 / 5.69Mb/s / 157MB size

Set up the Lord Kelvin's water-drop generator by filling the water tank at the bottom with water and running the pump (do not start it dry) and introducing some initial charge to one of the conducting "rings" using a teflon rod. Watch the sparks fly. For about 3mm spacing between the discharge rods and properly adjusted water flow rate one should see a spark ~ every 10 seconds.

Hints:

Do not start the pump dry. Make sure the water flow valves are open before starting the pump. Use a cheater plug to connect pump to the power outlet (ie. do not ground water pump).