Disappearing Pyrex
We will bring a piece of Pyrex glass and a container of vegetable oil. By submerging the glass in the oil, we can observe it seemingly disappear. This happens because the glass and oil have nearly the same refractive index, allowing light to pass through without bending. This experiment demonstrates the physics of refraction in a very visual way.
Spinning Wheel
We will bring a wheel with a rope attached to it. When the wheel spins, it resists tipping over and remains upright, showing the effects of conservation of angular momentum and rotational stability. This hands-on demonstration makes the concept of angular momentum easy to see in action and highlights real-world physics in motion.
Firefall
We will bring a laser pointer and a clear box to demonstrate how light behaves at certain angles. By shining the laser into the medium and adjusting the angle, we will see the light reflect entirely inside the material rather than passing through. This experiment illustrates total internal reflection and the behavior of light at critical angles.
Mechanical Melodies
We will bring a music box and a slide whistle to explore how they produce sound. By observing the moving parts of the music box and listening to pitch changes of the slide whistle, we will see how vibrations create tones. This experiment demonstrates the physics of sound waves, resonance, and vibration in a hands-on way.
Egg Blanket Throw
We will bring a raw egg and a blanket to test how a soft, flexible surface can catch the egg without breaking it. When the egg hits the blanket, the blanket increases the time of impact, reducing the force on the egg. This experiment demonstrates the physics of impulse and how extending collision time reduces damage.
Balancing Fork
We will bring a single bent fork and a nail (or similar small pivot) to demonstrate balance. By carefully positioning the bent fork on the nail head, we can find its center of gravity and observe how it remains stable. This experiment illustrates the physics of torque, equilibrium, and center of mass in a hands-on, visual way.
Math in Motion 