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
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Measurement
Motion In One Dimension
Motion In Two Dimensions
Newton's First Law: Hit the Nail on the Head; video - Tablecloth Pull; video - Bottle and Pencil; video - Breaking Broomstick; video - Motion of Center of Mass; video - Hanging Masses; Water Hammer; video - Ballistics Cart; Razor Scooter; Ball Collection
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

video - Bottle and Pencil

Purpose:

Illustrate Newton's First Law.

Procedure:

Normal Speed - DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD
Slow Motion - DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

Balance pencil on top of hoop which is itself balanced on the bottle as shown below. Quickly pull the hoop sideways from under the pencil and the pencil will drop into the bottle. You must start with your hand in the hoop and pull the hoop out from the inside.

When the hoop is pulled, a deformation occurs and the hoop pulls away from the pencil faster than the pencils acceleration due to gravity. The slow motion video below shows this.

Equipment:

Coke bottle
Pencil
Wooden Hoop