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
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum: Egg in a Sheet; Reaction Cars; video - Ballistics on Air Track; Ballistic Pendulum; Fire Extinguisher Rocket Cart; Water Rocket; Rocket Tricycle; Methanol Rocket (Explode a Milk Jug); Match Rocket; video - 2-Liter Bottle Rocket; video - Hovercraft; video - Air Track Collisions; video - Newton's Cradle Collisions; video - Battering Ram Collisions; Gauss Gun - Elastic and Inelastic Collisions; video - Double Ball Bounce; video - Air Table Collisions
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter

Rocket Tricycle

Purpose:

To illustrate conservation of momentum.

Procedure:

A custom-made adult-sized tricycle with an attached shelf on the back of the tricycle, in between the two back wheels is used. Mount a CO2 bottle on the shelf and connect the release handle to the right hand brake cable. The bicycle propels pretty steadily with a person sitting on it.

Hints:

The bicycle is stored in the H-cage in the attic.