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Al Tobias (wat4y) - Office: Rm. 201, (434) 924-0538 - Lab: Rm. 202, (434) 924-6800

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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Electrostatics
Electric Fields And Potential: video - Van de Graaff Generator; video - Electrostatic Bell; Electric Lines of Force; Electrostatic Motor; video - Electric Fields; video - Gauss' Law; Radio in Faraday Cage; video - Fluorescent Bulb in Faraday Cage; video - Lightning Rod; video - Electric Wind; Ionic Drive; video - Smoke Precipitator
Capacitance
Current and Resistance
Electromotive Force And Current
DC Circuits
Magnetic Materials
Magnetism
Inductance
Induction
Complex Circuits
Semiconductors And Tubes
Transmission Lines and Antennas

Electrostatic Motor

Purpose:

To show the phenomenon of charging by induction and contact and how it can be used to convert the energy of an electric field into mechanical energy.

Procedure:

Connect the Nakamura Electrostatic Motor apparatus to the whimhurst machine and start spinning the whimhurst wheel. The ball in the plate might need a little push to start going. Watch the ball rotate in a circle as it gets progressively attracted to the alternating electrodes of different polarity.

Equipment:

Nakamura Electrostatic Motor
Wimshurst Machine