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
Electricity And Magnetism
Optics
Modern Physics
Audio-Visual
New or Modified Entries (within the last month)

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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
Statics Of Rigid Bodies
Applications Of Newton's Laws: Ladder Against a Wall; Walking the Giant YoYo; Weight Dependence of Friction; video - Contact Area Independence of Friction; Coefficient of Friction
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter

Weight Dependence of Friction

Purpose:

To demonstrate that friction forces depend on the normal force on the object.

Procedure:

Pull an empty wooden box on the bench with the spring scale. Repeat adding more weights into the box and observe that more force is required to move the box.

Equipment:

Weights
Spring Scale
Wooden Box