[:PiraScheme#Mechanics: Table of Mechanics]

[:Gravity: Mechanics (1L): Gravity]

[:Linear_Momentum: Mechanics (1N): Linear Momentum]

[:Demonstrations:Lecture Demonstrations]

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

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1M10.10

Shelf and Block

Lift a block up and set it on a shelf.

1M10.16

Carry a Block

Just carry a block around.

1M10.20

Pile Driver I

Drive a nail into a block of wood with a model pile driver.

1M10.21

Pile Driver II

Drop a weight onto a nail in wood.

1M10.25

Pile Driver with Soda Cans

Smash pop cans with a pile driver.

1M10.99

Work to Remove Tape

Pull off a piece of tape stuck to the lecture bench.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1M20.01

Simple Machines

A collection of simple machines is shown.

1M20.10

[:BlockNTackle: Block and Tackle Pulley Systems and Pulley Advantage]

An assortment of large pulleys are rigged several ways.

1M20.11

Mechanical Advantage of Pulleys

Hang a 10N weight on a string passing over a pulley and measure the force with a spring scale, then hang the weight from a pulley that is free to move up and down.

1M20.15

Pulley and Scales

This is a counter intuitive demonstration. A frame containing a spring scale and pulley hangs from another spring scale. Look it up.

1M20.20

Bosun's Chair

Use a single pulley to help the instructor go up.

1M20.20

Bosun's Chair

Using a block and tackle, the lecturer ascends. Full of pedagogical hints on how to do this effectively.

1M20.25

Monkey and Bananas

A yo-yo and counterweight are suspended over a pulley. The counterweight and yo-yo rise and fall.

1M20.27

Windlass

A model windlass is described.

1M20.28

Climbing Pirate

String is wrapped around two different sized pulleys on a common axis.

1M20.35

Big Screw

A large wood screw and nut show the relationship between a screw and incline.

1M20.40

Levers

A torque bar, spring scale, and pivot are used to illustrate the three classes of levers.

1M20.60

Wheel and Axle

The PIC-Kit used for demonstrating simple machines.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1M30.10

Air Track Collisions / Sliding Masses

Compare the bounce of an air cart on an inclined air track with a mass that is attached tightly and loosely.

1M30.15

Negative Acceleration Due to Friction

A pendulum hits a tabletop, transferring a wood block rider to the tabletop. Potential to kinetic energy is depleted due to friction.

1M30.30

The Woodpecker

A toy bird slides down a rod giving up energy to friction and pecking. A "loose clamp" on the ring stand demo is also shown.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1M40.10

Nose Basher

A bowling ball pendulum is held against the nose and allowed to swing out and back.

1M40.12

Cut a Pendulum String

Suspend a heavy bob on a thin string. As the ball reaches the lowest point of its swing the string is cut by a fixed razor blade. A kinematic analysis of the bob's flight gives the velocity it had when it left the pendulum. KE at that point should be equal to PE at the point it was released.

1M40.15

Galileo's Pendulum / Stopped Pendulum

Intercept the string of a pendulum by a post at the bottom of the swing. The bob will still return to its initial height.

1M40.20

Loop the Loop

A ball rolls down an incline and around a loop. Vary the initial height of the ball.

1M40.23

reverse loop the loop

In the reverse loop-the-loop a ball rolls up an incline and around a loop into a cup as the whole apparatus is accelerated.

1M40.25

Energy Well Track

A ball can escape the energy well when released from a point above the peak of the opposite side.

1M40.30

Ball on a Track

A ball rolls in an angle iron bent into a "v" shape.

1M40.30

Ball in a Trough

Roller coaster car on a track runs down one track and up another of a different slope.

1M40.32

Ball in Curved Tracks

Balls are rolled down a series of curved tracks of the same height but different radii.

1M40.35

Roller Coaster

A ball rolls down a track with four horizontal sections of differing heights. The velocity is measured at each section.

1M40.35

Roller Coaster

Optoelectronic detectors measure the speed of a ball at specific points on a roller coaster track. Could be adapted for lecture demonstration.

1M40.40

Ballistic Pendulum

The standard ballistic pendulum setup.

1M40.40

Ballistic Pendulum

Fire a air-gun into a wood block with a paraffin center.

1M40.41

Ballistic Pendulum

The commercial swinging arm ballistic pendulum.

1M40.45

Bow Gun Ballistic Pendulum

Find the velocity of the dart fired from a blowgun by measuring the fall from the aiming point to the hit point on the target block.

1M40.50

Big Yo-Yo: Maxwell's Yo-Yo

A large (2') disc is suspended from a small axle so the string unwinds on the way down and rewinds on the way up.

1M40.55

Swinging Arm

A ball is dropped into a pivoting capturing arm from the height required to make it just complete one revolution.

1M40.56

Spinner and Pendulum

A ball suspended as a bifilar pendulum hits a ball of equal mass free to rotate in a horizontal circle.

1M40.57

Wilberforce Pendulum

A complicated apparatus converts elastic potential energy (spring) into rotational potential energy and back.

1M40.60

Height of a Ball

Rotate a 15.3in radius bar at 1, 2, or 3 rev/sec, a mechanism releases a ball at the end of the bar at the moment the ball is traveling vertically. The ball rises 1, 4, or 9 ft.

1M40.61

1-D Trampoline

A horizontal string passes over a pulley down to a spring fixed at one end. Place a spitball at the center of the horizontal section and pull it down until the spring extends unit lengths. Compare the heights the spitball reaches.

1M40.63

Spring Energy Dependence (x squared)

Measure the height of recoil on an air cart glider on an incline after compressing a spring different to different lengths.

1M40.64

Spring Pong Gun

A spring gun shoots standard and loaded ping pong ball to different heights.

1M40.65

Height of a Spring Launched Ball

A 3/4" steel ball is launched upward by a "stopped spring" (shown), from which the initial velocity is calculated.

1M40.66

Mechanical Jumping Bean

A mailing tube jumps when a hidden mass moves upward under rubber band power.

1M40.68

Muzzle Velocity and Spring Constant

A method of using the potential energy of the cocked spring to calculate the muzzle velocity. (15% of the energy is lost.)

1M40.69

Ratchet for Inelastic Collisions

A ratchet mechanism locks a spring in the compressed position giving an inelastic collision with the decrease in kinetic energy stored for later release by tripping the ratchet.

1M40.71

Dropping Bar

Lift a horizontal bar suspended from two springs and drop it through a photocell to measure velocity. Examine the exchange between gravitational, elastic potential, and kinetic energy.

1M40.72

Tension in Wire when a Mass wings

A spring scale is suspended between two masses. Set one swinging- a lot of physics.

1M40.91

High Bounce Paradox

Flip a half handball inside out and drop on the floor. It bounces back higher than the height from which it was dropped.

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1M50.10

Prony Brake

A belt fastened to two spring scales is strung under tension around a large pulley which is mounted to a frame.

1M50.20

Power Bicycle

Attach a 2" diameter axle to the rear of a bike and use it to lift a weight via a pulley on the ceiling.

1M50.50

Rocket Wheel

Two rockets are mounted on the rim of a bike wheel. The second is fired after effect of the first has been measured showing the power developed by a rocket is a function of its velocity.