Mechanics Demonstrations

Demonstrations

Air Track

Gliders of equal, or different, mass can be used for various momentum demonstrations. The gliders have springs for elastic collisions and there is putty available to adapt them for totally inelastic collisions. Track is powered by the blue vacuum shown in the picture.

setup time: < 10 minutes

Cart Track

Carts of equal, or different, mass can be used for various momentum demonstrations. The carts have springs for elastic collisions and there is putty available to adapt them for totally inelastic collisions. Weights may be placed on top of the carts to increase their mass.

setup time: < 10 minutes

Loop the Loop

Demonstration of the interplay between kinetic and gravitational potential energy. Golf balls are rolled down the track's channel.

setup time: < 10 minutes

Center of Mass Hammer

Center of mass demonstration. LED is mounted at the center of mass of the hammer. When the hammer is thrown, the led traces out a 'smooth' ballistic trajectory.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Pulley Demo

Show various combinations of pulleys and mechanical advantage.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Ball Drop

Two balls are released at the same time (released pin strikes one and moves out from inside the other). One ball drops straight down. The other ball is projected horizontally. Both balls hit the floor at the same time.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Monkey and Hunter

A plastic ball is projected by the device in the left photo at the target in the right photo. The target is held by a magnet and drops at the same time the ball leaves the 'gun'. Careful alignment is required.

setup time: 10-15 minutes

Penny and Feather

A penny and feather are located inside of a long (somewhat heavy) glass tube. The air is pumped out of the tube with the vacuum pump on a cart (not shown). The two object fall at the same rate when there is no air in the tube. It is best to pump the tube down first and then open the value to demonstrate the effect when air is present.

setup time: 5 minutes

Torque

Simple demonstration of torque using a meter stick and weights.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Turntable seat

Turntable seat for angular momentum conservation demo. Various weight blocks are available to be hand-held (pull arms in when spinning to increase angular speed, etc).

setup time: < 5 minutes

Bicycle Wheel and Hidden-Wheel Breifcase

Wheels for angular momentum conservation demo. The briefcase wheel can be spun up, then closed and handed to a student to demonstrate the gyro's resistance to change in direction.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Rocket Sled

Demonstration of Newton's 3^rd law. Requires C0₂ fire extinguisher. (The fire extinguisher are filled by the W&M fire department. If no extinguishers are full, this can take a couple of days.) Use care when doing this demonstration. Wheels of the sled are only suitable for smooth floors.

setup time: < 10 minutes

Gyroscopes

Demonstration for conservation of angular momentum.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Bowling Ball Pendulum

Can be mounted in either Small 111 (big lecture room). Small 110 (smaller lecture room) has a pedulum that is accesable from the HVAC room above the lectuer hall (via the demo. room back door). Note:Pendulum in picure is not in the renovated Small Hall.

Swinging Water pail

Centripetal force demonstration

setup time: < 5 minutes

Newton's Cradle

Glass one lights up on impact.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Torsion Pendulum

Wire or string attachment.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Floating CO₂Puck

Put small CO₂ cartridges in the handle (unscrews), and the puck floats on the gas coming out of a small hole on the bottom. Usefull for "frictionless" motion demonstrations.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Vector Example

Used to show a physical "vector" with magnitude and direction. Can be used to explain the symbols for a vector coming into, and out of, the board.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Bed of Nails

Blow up baloon to show that it won't pop because the pressure is distributed over a large area, versus a single nail which will pop it.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Metal-band Oscillator

Oscillator using two thin bands of metal. Place masses on the top, displace it to the side, and it oscillates horizontally.

setup time: < 5 minutes

Rocket Balls

Dropping the stack of balls on its end shoots the small top red ball higher thatn it would bounce on its own if dropped from the same height.

Trick Bounce Balls

The balls look and feel identical, but one is constructed such that it will not bounce, while the other will

Fan Cart

The cart will role when the fan is turned on. If the plastic shield is attached, the motion will cease.

Inertial Ball Experiment

Lay the platic spacer on top of the pedestal. Then, place the ball on the spacer, pull back metal tab and release. The plastic spacer should have been knocked from under the ball, and the ball should be resting on the top of the pedestal.

Newton Beeds

Give a sharp downward pull to start the motion of the beeds. Inertia will cause the motion to continue and the bucket will empty. Refill the bucket carefully by layering the beads to the top. (do not tangle or the demonstration will not work)

Racing Marbles

Marbles released from same height at same time will reach the end of the track at different times. Energy is conserved.

Harbottle

Inflate inner balloon and insert cork. Remove mouth and the balloon will remain inflated. Demonstrates fluid pressure and presure reduction.

Magniburg Hemispheres

Pump the balls down with a vacuum pump to demonstrate that the strength of the pressure pushing on the outside from atmosphere is greater than that of the pressure on the inside. Handles allow students to pull on it, or to attach weights.