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
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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

Happy and unhappy balls

Purpose:

To demonstrate different coefficients of restitution for different material. Introduce the terms "dead" and "live" balls.

Procedure:

Two balls of similar size have different coefficients of restitutions leading to different bounce responses from different materials. Happy ball (made of high restitution Neoprene) bounces happily off hard surfaces. Unhappy or Sad ball (made of low restitution Norsorex) does not. Then drop an unhappy ball on an inflated plastic bag to demonstrate that "dead' bodies can become "live".