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Al Tobias (wat4y) - Office: Rm. 201, (434) 924-0538 - Lab: Rm. 202, (434) 924-6800

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
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter: Hooke's Law; Force Constant of a Spring; Spring Scale Collection; Strings and Springs; Breaking Wire (Plasticity); Bending Beams; Prince Rupert's Drops; Shear Block; Happy and unhappy balls; video - Coefficient of Restitution; Crystal Models

Prince Rupert's Drops

Purpose:

To demonstrate the formation of tensile stress in quickly cooled glass. Warning: Requires time to practice & skill to accomplish. Must familiarize with technique before requesting.

Procedure:

Heat up a glass rod with a hot burning blow torch and let the molten glass drip into a bucket of cool water. The glass drops will cool rapidly and form Prince Rupert's drops.
The tensile stress inside the drops can be demonstrated first using two polarizers. Then the drops can be squeezed strongly on the head and they'll withstand the pressure. Squeezing the drop on the tail will immediately shatter it to dust.

Hints:

Not every molten piece of glass will result in a viable drop. Most (about 2/3 of them) will actually shatter while cooling. Requires time to practice & skill to accomplish. Must familiarize with technique before requesting.