Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Physics Video Tuesday - Electric Field Demos!

Physics Video Tuesday    April 19, 2016

Visualizing the Electric Field  by James  Lincoln

For as long as I have been a Physics Teacher, I have been interested in making the Electric Field visible to my students.  This is IMPOSSIBLE because it is literally imaginary.  Despite this challenge, I have researched and demonstrated the best ways to display it.  What follows is a collection of videos I have created to demonstrate and describe the Electric Field. 
Perhaps the best way to demonstrate it is with Potassium Permanganate crystals which dissolve slowly on a damp saline cloth. 

ELECTRIC FIELD Visualized with Crystals




For AAPT Films, I created a two-part documentary on all of the best ways I know to demonstrate the electric field:

Ten Ways to SEE the Electric Field - Part 1




Ten Ways to SEE the Electric Field - Part 2



It is not enough that we simply show the effects of the electric field, but we must also know the rules of how it behaves.  Here are two videos I made for UCLA Physics on the Rules of Drawing Electric Field Lines and Rules regarding the behavior of Conductors:

5 Rules of the Electric Field

5 Rules for Conductors


In my research, I did create an original contribution to these demonstrations that I think makes a classic work much better.  In this video, I have some more of my lettuce seed demonstrations.  I have written an article about making this yourself from a coat hanger and Styrofoam cups:

Lettuce Seed Demonstrations

This demonstration is typically performed using grass seeds:

Grass Seeds Electric Field Demos





Monday, January 25, 2016

Physics Video Tuesday - January 26, 2016

AAPT’S Physics Video Tuesday     January 26, 2016


Sulfur Hexafluoride and Helum – At the Same Time! Explained        by James Lincoln




Sulfur Hexafluoride vs Girl (Anna Spitz)    by James Lincoln and Anna Spitz



These two videos we made to feature some of the demonstrations that can be done with Sulfur Hexafluoride.

The first was made by James Lincoln as part of a video contest and the second was made by James Lincoln and Anna Spitz as part of a video demonstration series.

Sulfur Hexafluoride is available from Flinn Scientific, and should only be inhaled from a balloon, as should helium, and never from the bottle directly.

OTHER VIDEOS

Sulfur Hexafluoride with Musical Instruments by Kyle Forinash

Using Helium and SF6 in a trombone and a few other instruments.



Sulfur Hexafluoride Deep Voice Gas by Steve Spangler Science

Spangler does the voice demo, and floats a boat on it, as well as show that SF6 prevents sparks.





Related Articles from The Physics Teacher

Helium & Sulfur in Musical Instruments:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.4897582

Helium Speech - Applied Standing Waves: http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.3566028


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To submit a video or make a suggestion email James Lincoln:  James@PhysicsVideos.net


Monday, January 18, 2016

Physics Video Tuesday!

AAPT’S Physics Video Tuesday     January 19, 2016

Polarization Physics: AAPT FILMS     by James Lincoln

In this video you will find about 20 physics demos using polarizers and related equipment.  
Also included are explanations and instructions on how to succeed doing them.


      1.     Crossed Polarizers
2.      The Mechanical Polarizer (analogy)
3.       The Construction and Axis of Polarizers
4.       The Triple Polarizer
5.       Light waves as vectors
6.       LCD Screens
7.       Circular Polarization
8.       Stress in Plastics, Glass, & Packaging tape
9.       Prince Rupert’s Drop
10.   Reflected Glare
11.   Glare on surfaces
12.   Polarized Sun Glasses
13.   The Polarized Sky
14.   3d Glasses
15.   Malus’ Law (Angle vs Intensity)
16.   Brewster’s Angle
17.   The Faraday Effect
18.   The Verdet Constant
19.   Microwave & Radio Polarization
20.   Projector Polarization

This video was created as part of the AAPT Films Series.  
The series is written, directed, and hosted by James Lincoln.  
This particular video was funded by the AIP Meggers Grant. 

OTHER VIDEOS

UCLA Physics: Circular Polarization   by James Lincoln




UCLA Physics: Polarization of Light   by James Lincoln


60 Symbols

Polarization (of Microwaves too!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2TkM0hzW8


Paul Hewitt

Hewitt-Drew-it Polarization:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsrq4RTHJvc
Polarized Glasses Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCE1JZ3bKMg



Related Articles from The Physics Teacher

Microwave Polarization: http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.2340822
Malus’ Law (using Lasers):  http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.880421
Model of Polarizers:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.3685128
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To submit a video or make a suggestion email James Lincoln:  James[at]PhysicsVideos.net