Cavendish Experiment

Description:  Henry Cavendish was the first scientist to measure the gravitational force between two objects in the laboratory using a gravitational torsion balance. In this video physics teacher Andrew Bennett attempts to recreate this experiment. Reading the comments section is very interesting. Pseudoscientific flat-earthers attempt to point out errors in the Mr. Bennett's experiment. Students could attempt to recreate the experiment or join in the conversation.

Web Resources:  Cavendish Experiment - Wikipedia, Gravitational Torsion Balance - Pasco

A few years back, I posted a video of my replication of the Cavendish Experiment, which both supported the idea that all objects exert a gravitational force on all other objects and allowed for the calculation of the universal gravitational constant. Unfortunately, due to some poor planning and environmental problems, my version didn't go well.

Flymo Hover Lawnmower

Description:  The Flymo hover mower is built on the same principles as a hovercraft. It contains a fan above the cutting blade that generates lift. This could be used as a phenomenon to explore balanced forces and gravity.

Web Resources:  Flymo Hover Mowers, Flymo - Wikipedia

Raw or Boiled Egg Experiment

Description:  This is a simple experiment to demonstrate the idea of inertia. Students could be given eggs that are both raw and boiled and they could use evidence to support the identity of the labeled eggs. In the raw egg the yolk and fluid act as independent objects and so they will continue moving when the egg is briefly stopped.

Web Resource:  Newton’s First Law - the Physics Classroom

An egg experiment was necessary in our home this weekend. We were preparing for some serious egg decorating but lost track of which bowls contained raw egg or boiled egg. Without having to crack an egg, we used egg physics to help us solve our problem.

A Bed of Nails

Description:  Special caution should be taken when sitting down or getting up from a bed of nails. In this video, Steve Spangler used a motor to lift the entire bed of nails up and down safely. Each of the nails is pushing on the participant but since there are so many nails the force is distributed safely between all of the nails. This demonstration could be used in any physics unit discussing forces and pressure.

Web Resource:  Bed of Nails - Wikipedia

Ellen loves learning cool science tricks from Steve Spangler. When he asked her to lie on a bed of nails, she wasn't so sure it was a good idea!

Amazing Rube Goldberg Machines

Description:  Rube Goldberg machines are named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg who drew complicated steps involved in doing a fairly simple task (like pouring milk in a glass). Students can study these machines, or build their own, to show how energy can be converted through a series of interactions. In lower elementary classes they might be shown or built to show how pushes or pulls can change the motion of objects. As they move through school they should start to identify specific collisions, interactions, and conversions of energy.

Web Resources:  Rube Goldberg Machines - Wikipedia

http://www.2dhouse.com/rubegoldbergmachines.php - This was a fun short Rube Goldberg Machine we produced in house. Mostly an experiment but definitely quite interesting and very rewarding to create. We hope you enjoy :).

From the OK Go album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" available at http://www.okgo.net/store Director: James Frost, OK Go and Syyn Labs. Producer: Shirley Moyers. The official video for the recorded version of "This Too Shall Pass" off the album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky".

Weighing the World

Description:  The Schiehallion experiment was an attempt to measure the mass of the earth using a pendulum and a mountain (Mount Schiehallion). The mass of the mountain was approximated and the deflection of a pendulum due to the gravitational force of the mountain was measured. Students could attempt to do the calculations or even repeat the experiment on a nearby mountain.

Web Resource:  Schiehallion Experiment - Wikipedia

In July 2005 a modern recreation of Maskelyne's famous Schiehallion experiment was attempted, using simple school science equipment to achieve in one day what had originally taken cutting edge apparatus and 17 weeks of astronomical observation. This is footage from BBC Newsnight Scotland reporting the attempt on 27th July 2005.

Slow Motion Golf Ball Collision

Description:  In this dramatic slow motion video a golf ball collides with a piece of steel showing a large amount of compression. Different golf balls are designed to have varying amounts of compression based on the desired behavior of the ball. In a kindergarten class golf balls or baseballs are great examples of pushes causing changes in the motion of an object. In the upper grades this could be a great example of a collision. Students could investigate the behavior of different golf balls (or clubs) and even do some designing themselves.

Web Resource: Golf Ball - Wikipedia

Golf Ball hitting steel. http://bit.ly/zvQsrf

Amazing Slinky Tricks

Description:  The Slinky was invented by Richard James, an engineer, who was working with springs to support and stabilize equipment on a ship. Simple slinky tricks show how forces (pushes and pulls) change the direction of an object. Students can design a set of stairs, or obstacles, that the Slinky can navigate. In the secondary science classroom it can be used to investigate inertia, oscillations, and Hooke's law. This phenomenon can also be used to investigate wave properties.

Web Resource:  Slinky - Wikipedia

I guess this is how you're supposed to play with a slinky「(°ヘ°) It's pretty ridiculous the tricks that you can do with this classic children's toy. // Relive your childhood and play with a slinky. PICK ONE UP HERE! → http://amzn.to/2mVd613 // Kuma Shirts→ http://bit.ly/KumaShirt // Subscribe→ http://bit.ly/kumaf1lms // More vids → http://bit.ly/kumavids Congrats to the winners for the Ringdama giveaway!

Building the slinky escalator for never ending slinky stair traversal. http://woodgears.ca/toys/slinky.html

Magnetic Cannon

Description:  The magnetic cannon contains four spaced neodymium magnets in a channel.  Two balls bearings are placed between each ball bearing.  When a new ball bearing is introduced a transfer of energy occurs and the final ball bearing leaves with a higher initial velocity than the first.  This is a great phenomenon for studying transfer of momentum and the energy of an object based on its position within a magnetic field.

Web Resource:  Magnetic Challenge with Bozeman Science

Magnetic Cannon Challenge. Paul Andersen from Bozeman science has challenged me when we met about the magnetic cannon, he wants me to figure out the physics behind a toy called the magnetic cannon. I'll post my answer to this challenge next week.