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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Geometrical Optics: Speed of Light; 1/r² Demonstrator; video - Ray Optics Kit; Confocal Mirrors; Concave Mirror; video - Light The Match; Disappearing Beaker; String Model of Refraction; Total Internal Reflection; Steal the Light; Light Pipe and Fiber Optics; Water Light Pipe; Thin Lenses with Objects
Diffraction
Interference
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Polarization
The Eye

Disappearing Beaker

Purpose:

To demonstrate the principle of refraction of light. Warning: This is an oily messy demo.

Procedure:

Fill a small beaker without any markings on it with cooking oil and dip it into the larger beaker filled with the same oil. Since the index of refraction of the beaker glass is very close to the index of refraction of cooking oil the part of the submerged part of the beaker will become invisible.

Hints:

This is an oily messy demo. Various other objects are available for a disappearing act.