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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Measurement
Motion In One Dimension: video - Introduction to Lagrangian; AirPro Hockey pucks; video - Marble and Feather; video - Free Fall Acceleration; video - Uniform Linear Acceleration - Time; video - Uniform Linear Acceleration - Velocity; Propeller Cart on Track; Measurement of Free Fall Acceleration; Falling Drops of Milk; Falling Ball
Motion In Two Dimensions
Newton's First Law
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Third Law
Statics Of Rigid Bodies
Applications Of Newton's Laws
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter

Falling Ball

Purpose:

To show that the force of gravity on an object leads to a uniform acceleration equal to "g".

Procedure:

Video tape the ball as it drops in front of the black background. The tape is then replayed on the main screen one frame at a time and markers are placed on the screen at the ball's position in each frame. After measuring the distance the ball drops between each frame, use the known time between frames to calculate the ball's acceleration.

Hints:

Use Panasonic AG 6300 VCR for best results.

Equipment:

Hi 8mm Handycam
VCR
Falling ball apparatus