Skip to main content

Demonstrations

Identifier Title Summary
M: S - 017 Screwjack

A simple screwjack is used to show mechanical advantage and simple machines

A screw Jack
L: GO - 017 Shadow and a Cube
M: SHM - 001 Shadows of Simple Harmonic Motion

The shadows of both a mass oscillating vertically on a spring and a mass rotating in a vertical circular path are projected onto the board to show similarities in motion.

Shadow of a ball in circular motion and a cube in vertical oscillation projected onto a whiteboard
M: SHM - 013 SHM on Short Air Track

A glider on a frictionless surface oscillates between 2 springs

A glider is connected to the two ends of the air track by springs
M: K - 004 Shoot the Target

A dart is shot at a falling target.

Dart gun rests against apparatus
M: K - 003 Shot/Dropped Balls

A ball is launched horizontally.  At the same time, a ball is released from rest to fall vertically. 

Shot/Dropped Ball Apparatus
M: WM&S - 034 Singing Rods
FL: HS - 016 Sinking Battleships

A small beaker of copper shot is sunk in a large beaker of water to demonstrate measurement of the buoyant force.

Copper shot, a large beaker, a small beaker of copper shot, and a vis-a-vis marker rest on a table.
FL: HS - 027 Sinking Objects

Objects placed into a beaker of water will sink.

2000-mL beaker, towels, white/metallic ball, zinc cylinder
FL: HS - 009 Siphon

Water is siphoned from one container to another

A hose siphons water from an elevated beaker to a beaker at a lower position
M: WM&S - 055 Slide Whistle

A slide whistle is used to demonstrate how pitch changes with the length of the cavity.

Slide Whistle
FL: ST - 001 Small Bubble to Large Bubble
L: GO - 056 Small Concave Mirrors with Toys

Small black discs composed of concave mirrors are used to produce an image (mirage) of a small toy placed inside the disk (pig, button, bolt, etc)

3 Mirage Toys
L: GO - 057 Smiley on Bulb

The inverted image of a light bulb with a smiley face drawn on it is projected onto a wall.

Smiley face on a bulb
L: GO - 046 Smoke Box

Liquid smoke (Poof!) is used to make laser beams visible in an enclosed case.

3 green laser beams are visible inside the smoke box as they pass through a lense
T: H - 040 Solid Phase Heat Engine
M: WM&S - 017 Sound Wave Interference with Audacity

Audacity (music editing program), in conjunction with the lecture hall speakers, is used to demonstrate constructive and destructive interference.

A screen shot of a 750 Hz tone in Audacity.
E&M: Ind - 011 Spark
M: WM&S - 050 Speaker and Candle

A candle in front of a speaker will flicker when a speaker produces sound waves.

A speaker sits on the second shelf of a cart with a candle in front of it.  A frequency generator and amplifier sit on the top shelf of the cart
M: WM&S - 024 Speaking with Helium
E&M: ES - 003 Spherical Conductors
L: GO - 004 Spherical Mirrors

A concave mirror and a convex mirror on display

concave mirror and convex mirror
M: Rot - 002 Spinning Rod

A rod with mobile weights on the end is set rotating;  A cord is pulled to bring the weights near the center, thus changing the speed of rotation

Spinning rod apparatus
M: D - 001 Spring-loaded Car

A car with a plunger moves away from a stationary board with differing masses on it.  

2 Plunger Cars, 1 lightweight brick, 1 heavy brick
M: S - 020 Stacking Boards

7 boards are stacked in such a way that one extends out over the lecture bench.

7 boards stacked in an arch formation
M: WM&S - 002 Standing Waves Driven by Motor

A standing wave is created using a rope that fluoresces in the presence of a black light.

Standing wave apparatus set up on 2 demo benches
M: WM&S - 008 Standing Waves on Oscilloscope
M: CM - 006 Steam Engine with Fly-ball Governor

The changing speed of a governor causes the fly balls to change the radius of their circular path.

Engine with a flyball governor
T: H - 051 Steel Wool and Liquid Oxygen

Steel wool immersed in liquid oxygen will easily catch fire

Liquid oxygen, steel wool, tongs, beaker
T: H - 047 Stirling Cycle Heat Engine

Stirling Cycle Engine (working model + cutaway)

Stirling Cycle Engine
E&M: M - 036 Strength of Electromagnet

An electromagnet (from lifting magnet) is connected to a 9V battery and students have a tug-of-war to separate them.

Electromagnet, Iron plate connected to ropes, 9V battery lay on a table
M: S - 012 String with Floating Object
FL: HS - 019 Sucking Air from a Can

Air is removed from a paint can using a vacuum pump to demonstrate the strength of atmospheric pressure

A vacuum pump and a paint can
E&M: M - 041 T Magnet

A bar magnet and a similarly shaped piece of iron are used to demonstrate magnetic domains.

A bar magnet and a piece of iron with a similar shape
Astro - 007 Telescope

A working telescope

a telescope
E&M: AC - 005 Tesla Coil

A Tesla Coil is used to light a fluorescent bulb.

Tesla Coil
E&M: Ind - 012 The Choke Coil
E&M: M - 020 The Hall Effect
M: EngMom - 019 The Rattleback

A rattleback, set in a rocking motion, will begin to rotate.

2 rattlebacks, one in the package, one not
M: WM&S - 029 The Sonometer
E&M: Ind - 009 The Transformer

A transformer is used to step down or step up the voltage of a an electrical outlet

Transformer connected to AC switch and multimeter
M: EngMom - 020 The Vortex

A coin dropped into a funnel-like device swirls into an opening.

Yellow Vortex Apparatus
T: H - 014 Thermal Conductivity Comparison

Rods of various metals have steel balls attached by wax.  One end of the rods are heated in the flame of a bunsen burner.  Over time, the balls on the rods drop off at different times.

3 ring stands with rods of different metals.  The rods have balls attached by wax.  All three rods converge over a bunsen burner
T: H - 049 Thermobile
T: H - 044 Thermoelectric Converter

A fan is powered entirely by differences in temperature between 2 beakers of water.

Thermoelectric converter rests in a beaker of hot water and cold water.
FL: HD - 005 Throwing Curve Balls
M: WM&S - 022 Tone by Speed of Air
M: WM&S - 042 Torsion Wave Demonstrator

A collection of rods mounted on torsion wire can be used to demonstrate wave motion.

Torsion Wave Machine
L: GO - 044 Total Internal Reflection in a Stream of Water

A laser beam is passed though a box of water.  Rather than strike the wall, the beam follows the path of the water as it drains from the box.

Water drains from a lucite box as a laser is shown into it
M: EngMom - 004 Toy Yo-Yo

Your choice of yo-yo from a small selection

Yellow Yo-yo, Green yo-yol, and White yo-yo