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
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Optics
Modern Physics
Audio-Visual
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Measurement
Motion In One Dimension
Motion In Two Dimensions
Newton's First Law
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Third Law: Push Me Pull Me Carts; Air Track Reaction Cars; video - Newton's Sailboat; Distortion Loops
Statics Of Rigid Bodies
Applications Of Newton's Laws
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter

Push Me Pull Me Carts

Purpose:

To demonstrate the Newton's third law of action and re-action.

Procedure:

Two people stand on identical wheel carts and either push on each other or pull. Simplest case involves pulling on the rope and pushing on the stick. A more complex quantitative examples involves two people pushing on each other with grocery scales to actually measure exerted forces or "initiate the force" by throwing a medicine ball to each other.

Equipment:

Pasco Wheel Cart
Spring Scale