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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Geometrical Optics
Diffraction
Interference
Color
Polarization: video - Polarization of Light; video - Polarization of Microwaves; Polarization by Reflection; Brewster's angle; Optical Activity in Corn Syrup; Birefringence; Polarization by Scattering
The Eye

Birefringence

Purpose:

An example of a birefringent material (Calcite) occurring in nature.

Procedure:

Birefringence is double refraction (having two refractive indices). When passing a beam of light through a crystalline solid, the beam is split into two rays.

Place a piece of paper with a small hole in the middle on the overhead projector and place the calcite crystal over the hole. Two holes will now be visible on the screen, one caused by the ordinary ray and one by the extraordinary ray. A polariod can be placed in the path and rotated to show that the rays are polarized in mutually perpendicular directions.

Equipment:

Overhead Projector
Calcite crystal
8.5x11 paper with a hole in the middle