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
Fluid Mechanics
Oscillations And Waves
Thermodynamics
Electricity And Magnetism
Optics
Modern Physics
Audio-Visual
New or Modified Entries (within the last month)

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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

Radio in Faraday Cage

Purpose:

To demonstrate Gauss's law and the shielding effect of a conductor.

Procedure:

Tune a radio to a station with a clear signal. Place the radio on top of an aluminum plate and cover with a metal mesh. The radio stops receiving signals.

We have a small cage (dia=17cm, height=10cm) with an average mesh opening size of about 8x8mm. We have a large cage (dia=35cm, height=32cm) with an average mesh opening size of 6x6mm.

Our new ultra portable is a Crane CC Pocket radio, here is its instruction manual.

Note: Some carrier frequencies ...

AM Band: 540-1600kHz has λ = 556m to 188m
FM Band: 88-108MHz has λ = 3.5m to 2.8m
Cellular: 700-900MHz has λ = 0.43m to 0.33m
Cellular: 1700MHz-2500MHz has λ = 0.18m to 0.12m
WiFi: 2.4-2.5GHz has λ = 0.125m to 0.120m

Hints:

When using the Radio Shack Realistic radio with the small cage, it might be better to lay the radio on its side (with antenna side up) rather than lay it on its back.