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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
Fluid Mechanics
Oscillations And Waves
Thermodynamics
Electricity And Magnetism
Optics
Modern Physics
Audio-Visual
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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