Physics Demo Manual

Demonstrations are cataloged according to PIRA Bibliography

PLEASE REQUEST DEMOS WELL IN ADVANCE: Fall/Spring - no later than early afternoon the day before

Due to Physics Building renovations, 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

video - Electric Wind

Purpose:

To show attraction between charges.

Procedure:

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

Separate capacitor to maximum distance and place a lighted candle between plates. Connect each electrode of Wimshurst machine to a plate of the capacitor and crank. The predominantly positively charged flame will be attracted to the negative plate of the capacitor in a seeming electric "wind".

Hints:

Use capacitor consisting of thin rectangular plates on stands

Equipment:

Wimshurst Machine
Candle
Connecting Wires
Matches
Parallel Plate Capacitor