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)

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

Polarization by Scattering

Purpose:

To show how light is polarized when scattered from small particles in suspension.

Procedure:

Fill fish tank about 3/4 full of water. Sprinkle in a small amount of Cremora/dairy creamer and stir to dissolve. Direct the laser beam and/or projector white light through the now cloudy water and study the polarization from the top and side with the polarizer. The light is found to be polarized perpendicular to the direction of its travel.

Hints:

Do not make water too cloudy, the original beam should be seen at least through the half length of the tank

Equipment:

Small Fish Tank
Polaroid Filter
Cremora
Slide Projector
Laser