Lecture Demo Search

  • Pith Balls
    PIRA Code(s): 5A20.20
    Set up time:1 minute
    Operation: Charge the rod by rubbing it the through the cloth provide or on your shirt. Hold the rod near a pith ball. The two balls will repel each other. The PVC gives a positive charge and the acrylic rod gives negative charge.
    Physics and Science Concepts: Electrostatics, Coulomb’s Law
    Safety: None
  • Charged Ovoid
    PIRA Code(s): 5B30.20
    Set up time:5 minutes
    Operation: Use the Van der Graaf or Wimshurst generator to charge the ovoid. Touch a proof plane to the pointed end of the ovoid and another to the spherical end. Place the proof planes on the electroscope plate. The deflection will be greater from the proof plane that touched the pointed end.
    Physics and Science Concepts: Electrostatics, Surface Charge Density
    Safety: Electroscope can be obtained from demonstration number 5A22.22.
  • Parallel Plate Capacitors
    PIRA Code(s): 5C10.20
    Set up time:none
    Operation: Charge the plates using the Van de Graaff. Disconnect wire going from top of sphere to fixed plate at plate end. Change the spacing of a charged parallel plate capacitor while it is attached to an electroscope. Observe changes in electroscope pointer.
    Physics and Science Concepts: Capacitance
    Safety: Electroscope can be obtained from demo 5A22.22. The Van de Graaff can be obtained from demo 5A50.30.
  • Voltaic Cell
    PIRA Code(s): 5E40.20
    Set up time:1 minute
    Operation: Pour sulfuric acid into the glass container. Wait 5 minutes for the reaction to take place between the dissimilar metals. Place the voltmeter on the overhead and display the voltage generated in the cell.
    Physics and Science Concepts: Electromotive Force and Current
    Safety: Be careful around acid. Gloves and goggles should be worn when handling acid.
  • Induction Coil, Magnet, Galvanometer
    PIRA Code(s): 5K10.20
    Set up time:1 minute
    Operation: Hook the leads from the galvanometer to the induction coil. Place a magnet in front of the coil. Turn the crank and the needle on the galvanometer should move. The connection between the galvanometer and the loop changes polarity every half turn.
    Physics and Science Concepts: Electromagnetic Induction, Electricity and Magnetism
    Safety: Magnet is extremely strong so do not place metal objects near it.