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.

Choose a Topic or Enter a keyword to search:

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

I cannot find what I want!

You have selected the following Demos:

None Selected

Choose a subtopic:
(Clicking a green button will add that demo to your list)

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 - Smoke Precipitator

Purpose:

To demonstrate electrostatic precipitation of smoke particles.

Procedure:

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD / no audio / 1920x1080 / 24.19Mb/s / 350MB size

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD / no audio / 854x480 / 5.69Mb/s / 83MB size

Connect the wires to the high voltage power supply. Negative voltage will be applied to the center wire. Can is connected to ground. Light the incense stick and wait until smoke fill up the can and is well visible above it. Turn on the power supply and the smoke will clear up.

High voltage gradient around the center wire will ionize the air and gases from burning. The ions will charge the smoke particles and they will be attracted and deposited to the can surface.

Hints:

Using black cardboard background, a desk lamp can be used to illuminate and make thin center wire (as well as the smoke) better visible on camera.