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UBC Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physics 420 Demonstration

Samantha Lindenbach
2004 - 2005
Physics Outreach Lab

Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

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The purpose of this project is to introduce high school students to the concept of pressure, and relate this to their knowledge of forces. Since the project assumes a familiarity with Newton’s Laws, it is suitable for Physics 11 and Physics 12 students.

The Demonstration:

Introduction (less than 5 minutes):
Introduce myself to students and give them some background information regarding my project.
Discussion of Basic Concepts (15 minutes):
Show Power Point slides to introduce the idea of pressure. Define formulae and give examples to help students understand the difference between force and pressure.
First Demonstration (5 minutes):
Attach 6 drinking straws to a plastic garbage bag and seal all seams with packing tape. Have one student sit on a piece of plywood placed on top of the garbage bag, and have 6 students blow into the straws and lift the student off of the ground.
Pascal’s Law and Hydraulics (15 minutes):
Continue Power Point slides and introduce Pascal’s Law. Go through some sample calculations for hydraulic systems. Calculate the expected results of the next demonstration.
Main Demonstration (10 minutes):
Start with larger weights than were calculated to be able to lift the heavy weight on the hydraulic system. Decrease the weight with each trial and see if the heavy weight can be lifted with as little weight as calculated. Discuss possible sources of error and deviations from an idealized system. See building plans and photos for more info about the main demo.

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Lesson Plan

Power Point

Credits

Power Point

Credits

Power Point

Credits

Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

Credits

Power Point

Materials:
52 cm long piece of 4-inch PVC pipe
125 cm long piece of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe
70 cm long piece of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe
30 cm long piece of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe
2 1 1/4-inch elbow joints
60 cm wood dowel
125cm wood dowel
Nylon pistons fitted to pipe
Neoprene Sheets to cover pistons
4-inch PVC pipe caps
Set-Up:

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Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

Credits

Power Point

Home

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Lesson Plan

Home | Outline | Lesson Plan | Power Point | Building Plans | Photos | Credits

Credits

Power Point

I would like to thank Andrzej Kotlicki and Chris Waltham for running the Physics 420 course, and for their valuable input to my project and presentation.
A special thanks to Zoe Adrian at Point Grey Secondary who allowed me to present to two of her Physics 11 classes, and to Roger Blenman at Kwantlen Park Secondary who let me present to his Physics 11 class.
I would also like to thank Gordon Lindenbach (my dad) and Graham Cunliffe for helping me construct my project.
Thanks to Mitsuko Osugi for filming my presentations at Point Grey.
Finally, thanks to everyone in the 420 class for keeping our weekly meetings entertaining!

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Lesson Plan