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)

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

video - Newton's Sailboat

Procedure:

DEMO VIDEO DOWNLOAD

Place fan cart on aluminum track. The angle of the fan can be adjusted and the resultant acceleration of the cart observed. The shield is held on the cart by a magnet and can be used to show that you can't "blow your own sail".

Hints:

If used on the bench in 204 or on the track the friction is too low to overcome the turbulence effects around the sail's edges so one needs to use a larger size sail.

Equipment:

Aluminum Track
Fan Cart w/ shield