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
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Surface Tension
Fluid Statics
Fluid Dynamics: video - Torricelli's Law; Air Driven Devices; video - Venturi Tube; Toilet paper gun; video - Airplane Wing in Wind Tunnel; video - Air Flow Dynamics; Magnus Effect - Cart on Track; video - Magnus Effect Appartus; Terminal Velocity in Glycerin and Water; Terminal Velocity of Coffee Filters; video - Laminar and Turbulent Flow; Tornado Vortex; Vortex Cannon

video - Laminar and Turbulent Flow

Purpose:

To demonstrate laminar and turbulent flow of liquids and gases.

Procedure:

Ultra Laminar - DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

Rectangular Dish - DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

Circular Dish - DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

For laminar flow, inject one drop of food dyed glycerin into the laminar flow demonstrator (the glycerin filled cylinder) and spin the handle on top of the cylinder 5 turns in one direction, then 5 turns back. You'll see the original drop's shape magically return!

For turbulent flow, pour rheoscopic fluid into a glass tray and pull through the liquid with a wooden tongue depressor or stirring rod.

One can display this demo via a document camera. One can emphasize the rheoscopic fluid texture by using cross polarizing films.