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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Mechanics
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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

Buoyancy of Air

Purpose:

To show that gasses like liquids can also exert a buoynant force on objects immersed in them.

Procedure:

An ancient apparatus consisting of a small balance with some brass weights attached on one side and an evacuated glass sphere on the other is placed inside the vacuum chamber. Since the glass sphere has a greater volume than the brass weights, the buoyant force on the sphere due to the air is greater than on the weights. As the air is removed from the chamber, the buoyant force is removed as well and the sphere drops.