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)

Surface Tension
Fluid Statics: Hydrostatic Pressure dependence on depth; video - Pascal's Vases; Hydraulic Press; video - Balloon in Vacuum; Marshmallow Man; video - Crush the Soda Can; Magdeburg Hemispheres; Pressure Gauges; Qualitative Pressure Gauge; video - Archimedes' Principle I; Archimedes' Principle II; Archimedes Principle III; Cartesian Diver; Buoyancy of Air; video - Weight of Air
Fluid Dynamics

video - Balloon in Vacuum

Purpose:

To demonstrate the effect of atmospheric pressure on an air filled balloon.

Procedure:

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD - fast speed
DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD - normal speed
The main tool for this demo is our Pfeiffer Pascal 2010-SD rotary vane vacuum pump attached to a bell jar. Variety of experiments can be performed. A party balloon can be placed in the vacuum chamber and once most of the air is pumped out of the chamber, the balloon bursts.

Equipment:

Vaccum Pump