Mechanics

Measurement

• Compare mass to weight: Hang 1-kilogram from spring schale - weighs 9.8 N
• Compare meter to yard by showing both sides of "meter stick"
• Size of 1 square meter

Vector Analysis

• Vector sum of relative velocites in one dimension
• Resolution of Forces
• Resolution of Forces: Rope and three to seven students

Motion in One Dimension

• Demo Accelerometers
• Compare velocity and acceleration with electric car and cart on incline
• Paper wad and metal ball drop - same "g"
• Determine "g" with pad timer/drop ball
• Application of "g" - "reflex tester"
• Apollo 15 Astronaut on moon - Drop hammer/feather --- 20 second film clip on NASA web page
• Golf tee accelerometer w/cart on incline
• Vertical acceleration w/strings of spaced beads hitting pie pan - sound

Motion in Two Dimensions

• PROJECTILE MOTION
1. Altitude and range visualization
2. Ballistics cart thru tunnel
3. Simultaneous fall/shoot balls
4. Monkey and Hunter
• CIRCULAR MOTION
1. Circular motion compared to Tangential motion - tennis ball on string
2. Light ball lifts heavy ball
3. Glass on whirled platform
4. Swing accelerator around as you turn
5. Centripetal Force - friction on coin on OHP turntable
6. Spinning device on track ball
7. Car tethered to post goes in circular path or straight (tangent to circle) endless loop of chain

Newton's First Law

• INERTIA
1. Throw and catch basketball, medicine ball
2. Einstein action figure riding on cart with/without seatbelt - hits wall
3. Hammer hit head protected by "paper" or metal plate
4. Frustrating paper -- Tear paper w/o mass attached to center
5. Accelerometer on cart on incline or by hand
6. Hatchet w/loose head
7. Toilet Paper Roll pull
8. Inertia Ball
9. Two different mass balls on cup/knocked from under them

Newton's Second Law

• Dynamics cart w/hanging weights - golf tee accelerometer
• Dynamics cart w/different masses - spring launcher
• Force, mass and acceleration

Newton's Third Law

• One(1) person pushes off a second person on carts
• Pull apart two(2) connected spring scales
• Student on cart with fire extinguisher
• Blow up and release balloon
• Tennis ball cannon on cart (2nd and 3rd law)
• Fan cart on dynamics track with/without screen
• Spring Scale Discrepancy
• Action - Reaction

Statics of Rigid Bodies

• TORQUE & CENTER OF MASS
1. Determine center of gravity with plumb line on an irregular shape or Map of Louisiana
2. Throw wobbling shape
3. Balance unicycle monkey on string
4. Balance nine nails on one
5. Inertia
6. Compare C of G of meter stick and baseball bat, determine by balancing on finger tips
7. Wine Butler - C of gravity
8. Torque feeler w/meter stick and hanging weight
9. C of gravity with stacking blocks -- Tower of Lire
• FORCES
1. Resolution of Forces: Rope and three students
2. Tension
3. Pull apart two(2) connected spring scales

Applications of Newton's Laws

• Friction - Board w/several surfaces and sliding weights
• Friction Characteristics: Static vs. Sliding, Area of contact, normal force speed (block w/spring scale)
• Friction on an inclined surface

Gravity

• Coin and Feather Tube with Rotating Mount

Work and Energy

• Potential and kinetic energy with multiple incline track
• Spring elastic potential vs. gravitational potential energy/spring popper or dropper popper
• Nose basher (swinging bowling ball)
• Ballistic pendulum/projectile launcher
• Loop the loop track
• Potential and Kinetic Energy - Demo 1

Linear Momentum and Collisions

• Elastic and Inelastic Collision
• Newton's cradle
• Several balls coliding on track
• Elastic and inelastic collisions - Dynamics carts of different mass collide and spring apart
• Swing dart against block - rubber bounce or stick pin
• Drop weight on string - breaks, drop weight on rubberband - not break
• Impulse and Thrust: Throw egg in sheet
• Ballistic pendulum/projectile launcher

Rotational Dynamics

• Outward centrifugal force device
• MOMENT OF INERTIA
1. Variable inertia wheels w/changeable masses
2. Ring, disk, and sphere on incline
3. Rotational inertia of large and small toilet paper rolls
• CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM
1. Spinning bicycle wheel gyroscope - shows stability, precession, steering capability
2. Rotating stools with weights
3. Rotating Disk
• CIRCULAR MOTION
1. Circular motion compared to Tangential motion - tennis ball on string

Properties of Matter

• Hooke's Law vs. spring constant w/different springs and weights
• Density/"float" coke and diet coke cans in jar of water - diet lighter
• Density in solids - beaker of puffed rice w/golf ball and ping pong ball; 1 floats, other sinks
• Density - "foam" rock crushes in your hand and floats (looks are deceiving)
• Coefficient of Restitution: Sad and happy and "confused" balls