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
Color
Polarization
The Eye

Total Internal Reflection

Purpose:

To show that when light travels from a dense medium into a rarer one, there is a critical angle of incidence to the interface at which the light is totally internally reflected.

Procedure:

Fill the apparatus with water and illuminate from the rear. The mirror can be rotated to show the critical angle. In this case, from water to air, the angle is approximately 49 degrees.

Equipment:

Projector for light source
Total Internal reflection demonstrator
Water