[:PiraScheme#Mechanics: Table of Mechanics]

[:MotionIn1D: Mechanics (1C): Motion in One Dimension]

[:Demonstrations:Lecture Demonstrations]

Grayed out demonstrations are not available or within our archive and are under consideration to be added.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A10.10

[:BasicUnitSet:Basic Unit Set]

Show a clock with a second sweep, meter and yard sticks, and kilogram and pound mass.

1A10.20

[:StandardMasses:Standard Masses]

Show students a 1 lb mass and a 1 kg mass.

1A10.21

[:StandardMassSet:Standard Mass Set]

Show a sets of calibrated weights.

1A10.30

[:StandardMeter:Standard Meter]

Put out a Standard Meter.

1A10.31

[:PrecisionGaugeBlocks:Precision Gauge Blocks]

Show a sets of calibrated Hoke measuring blocks that are precision gauged for measuring thickness.

1A10.36

[:NanoSecond:1 "nsec"]

Length of meter stick cut to be equal to the distance light travels in one nanosec (0.29 m).

1A10.40

All Clocks

Set out a timer with a one second sweep, an hour glass, a metronome, etc.

1A10.40a

[:Metronome:Metronome]

Set out a metronome.

1A10.40b

[:StopClock:Stop Clock]

Set out a timer with a one second sweep.

1A10.40c

Hour Glass

Set out a hour glass.

1A10.45a

[:WWVReceivers:WWV Signal, Phone]

Put out a phone and call WWV to listen to the signal.

1A10.45b

[:WWVReceivers:WWV Signal, Web]

Go to [http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv.cfm http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv.cfm] to access the same signal online.

1A10.45c

[:WWVReceivers:WWV Signal, Radio]

Radio Receivers that pick up the WWV time signal.

1A10.48

Orrery

Get the Orrery from Astronomy to show sidereal time.

1A10.49

Sidereal Time

Two clocks on permanent display show Greenwich and Sidereal time.

1A10.50

[:OneLiterCube:One Liter Cube]

Put out a one liter wood cube that has cm square rules on one face.

1A10.55

Mass, Volume, and Density

Compare wood and aluminum cubes, each with 10 cm sides, (equal volume). Compare a 10 cm aluminum cube with a 10 cm sq x 4 cm lead block (equal mass). Compare an aluminum cube with 10 cm sides to a 10 cm sq x 4 cm aluminum block (equal density).

1A10.60a

Avogadro's Number Box

A cube with sides of 28.2 cm has a volume of 22.4 l at STP.

1A10.60b

Avogadro's Number Box

A 22.4 liter box to represent the volume of one mole at STP.

1A10.65

Mole Samples

Show mole samples of carbon, iron, copper, zinc, etc.

1A10.70

Density Samples

One kg samples of lead, aluminum, water, wood each have 5 cm square bases. A one meter frame shows the size of approximately 1 kg of air.

1A10.80

[:UScale:Scale of the Universe]

A Java Scrip that is simpler to the old movie "Powers of Ten" with a modern twist.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A20.10

Gaussian Collision Board

Balls roll down a nail board into parallel chutes forming a probability curve similar to the distribution of molecular velocities.

1A20.10a

Gaussian curve: Probability Board

1000's of  small ball bearings are funneled down through an array of posts to form the Gaussian Curve. (Must be retrieved from the [http://www.physics.wisc.edu/museum/index.html Physics Museum])

1A20.11

[:Hexstat:Hexstat Probability Demonstrator]

256 Small steel balls fall into 9 columns or bins to form a probability curve similar to a Gaussian distribution.

1A20.15

[:SamplingDemonstrator:Sampling Demonstrator]

A bowl of a few thousand colored balls. The ball colors correspond to the number of balls in the bowl. Paddles with holes for the balls can be used to sample different numbers of balls.

1A20.20

[:CoinFlip:Coin Flip]

Flip coin to show 50/50 probability.

1A20.25

[:Dice:6-Sided Dice]

Use them to show that the probability distribution is centered over 7.

1A20.31

Contact Time Measurement

Measure contact time of two hammers being struck together. A pulse generator is gated to a pulse counter while the hammers are in contact. Frequency of the pulse generator can be changed to vary accuracy.

1A20.40

Calipers

Demonstrate the use of a micrometer, spherometer, and vernier calipers.

1A20.41a

[:VernierCaliper:Calipers, Vernier]

Demonstrate the use of a vernier caliper. Use commercial large scale verniers to show how they work.

1A20.41b

[:ModelVernierCalipers:Calipers, Vernier (Model)]

Demonstrate the use of caliper by using a large scale wooden vernier caliper to show how calipers work.

1A20.41c

[:Spherometer:Calipers, Spherometer]

Demonstrate the use of a spherometer calipers.

1A20.41d

[:Micrometer:Calipers, Micrometer]

Demonstrate the use of a micrometer calipers.

1A20.51

Lead Ping Pong Ball and Foam Chunk

Students judge weight of a white lead filled ping pong ball and a chunk of black foam.

1A20.60a

Reaction Timer

Cover 3/4 or more of a stop clock face. Push the stop button when the hand shows. Measure the time.

1A20.60b

Reaction Time, Two button

Start by pushing and holding the start button. Move you hand over and hit the stop button as fast as you can once the counter starts to count up. Counter is in milliseconds and has a random start-up.

1A20.60c

Reaction Time

Use a dollar or a meter stick. Place the center of the item between someone's fingers, without touching. Have them try to pinch the item when it is released.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A30.10

[:XYZUnitVector:XYZ Axes]

Aluminum stand that holds 3 arrows to show Cartesian unit vecots.

1A30.15

Non-Orthogonal Frames

A model for demonstrating the geometry of vectors in non-orthogonal frames.

1A30.21

Euler's Angles

A model that demonstrates the orientation of an arbitrarily oriented set of orthogonal axes with respect to another orthogonal set which is fixed.

1A30.22

Euler's Angles - MITAC gyro model

Use the MITAC gyro {1Q50.30} as a classroom model to help illustrate Euler's angles.

1A30.30

Polar Coordinates

A model that shows the relationship between polar and Cartesian coordinates.

1A30.35

Radian and Steradian, Models

Cardboard cutouts.

1A30.40

Chalkboard Globe

Draw coordinates on a 20" plain globe.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A40.15

Project Components of a Vector

A horizontal arrow is shadow-projected onto two screens at 90 degrees, facing the class.

1A40.20

Folding Ruler

A large version of the folding carpenter's rule of four 2' sections with painted arrows.

1A40.25

Tinker Toys

Use tinker toys to represent vectors.

1A40.30

[:MagneticVectorAddition:Magnetic Vector Addition and Subtraction]

Use archery arrows on a magnetic whiteboard to show vector addition and subtraction.

1A40.50

Vector Displacement

An overhead projector device using two compass needles to show that a vector remains invariant when displaced. Diagram.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A50.10

Radian

Show a flexible strip of plastic or string equal to the radius of a large disc, then bend it around the circumference and mark off the radians.

1A50.30

Sine, Cosine, and Circle Linkage

Linkages connect a spot moving around a circle with spots moving orthogonal as the sine and cosine. (Item was converted to show the relation of circular and oscillating motion.)

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1A60.10

Powers of Ten

"Powers of Ten" is a 13min movie, covering scales from the universe to sub-atomic.

1A60.40

Scaling Cube

A large cube made up of 27 smaller ones is painted black on the outside. Knock the stack apart and show the increase in surface area by the preponderance of unpainted surfaces.