Physics Resources
Kia ora tatouTake a look at these experiments and follow the instructions and learn what Physics is about
Atoms, Nuclei and Photons
- Hot Star Cool Star | Tīrama, Tīrama Ngā Whetū
- Blackbody radiation is explored using a halogen light bulb with a dimmer. The results are used to discuss hot and cool stars.
- Star Scene Invesitgation | Te Tātari i Ngā Āhuatanga Whetū
- Diffraction gratings are used to observe the "bar code" spectra of chemical elements. We use this to learn what stars are made of.
Circuits and Electromagnetism
- Bicycle Generator | Pūngao Paihikara
- A bicycle is used to spin a generator and power light bulbs.
- Boil-up | Tōrua Korohuhū
- Electromagnetic induction is used to heat a copper ring and boil water.
- Eddy Current – Drag | Papa Konukura
- A strong rare Earth magnet and slabs of copper illustrate electromagnetic induction and eddy currents in dramatic fashion.
- Eddy Current – Tank | Te Taika Konukura
- A strong magnet rolls down a copper plate, turning toward the centre of the copper plate as eddy current drag slows the inner face of the magnet more than the outer face.
- Eddy Current – Tubes | Ngā Ngongo Aurere
- A non-magnetic pellet falls quickly through a conducting aluminium tube but a magnetic pellet falls slowly.
- Eddy Current – Vanes | Haukapo Rā Aurere
- An aluminium vane swings slowly between the poles of a magnet while a plastic vane is unimpeded. A slotted aluminium vane swings at intermediate speed.
- Electricity Generation | Te Mahi Hiko
- An aluminium vane swings slowly between the poles of a magnet while a plastic vane is unimpeded. A slotted aluminium vane swings at intermediate speed.
- Faraday's Law | Te Ture a Wharara
- Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction demonstrated with a coil and magnet.
- Floating on Air | Pūkawekawe
- A superconducting disk is used to levitate a magnet, demonstrating the Meissner Effect.
- Jumping Ring | Porohita Pēpeke
- Electromagnetic induction causes an aluminium ring to jump.
- Model Hydroelectric Generator | Hiko-ā-Awa
- A model hydroelectric generator powered by a garden hose operates a small light.
- Model Windmill Generator | Pūrere Kapohau
- A model wind turbine generator powers a small light.
- Power Grid | Te Pūkawe Hiko Matua o Aotearoa
- A primer on New Zealand's electricity transmission grid.
- Transformers
- A primer on transformers and their use in the electricity distribution grid.
- Trick Magnet | Auto Nuka
- One of two apparently identical steel rods passes easily between the poles of a magnet while the other unavoidably sticks to the magnet. One is stainless steel, the other mild steel.
Fluids and Thermal Gasses
- Ball and Funnel | Pōro me te Ipuroa Wahanui
- A bicycle is used to spin a generator and power light bulbs.
- Bernoulli Plates | Ngā Perēti a Bernoulli
- Surprisingly two plates are attracted when air flows out from the space between them!
- Cold as Neptune - Frozen Nitrogen | Pēnā i te Mātao o Tangaroa
- Pumping on liquid nitrogen causes it to freeze.
- Cold Boil | Hū Mātao
- A syringe is used to make water boil near room temperature.
- Cold Sweat | Werawera Mātao
- Evaporating liquids remove thermal energy. Sweating uses this physics to cool the body.
- Cooling by Boiling | Te Whakamātao Mā te Paera
- Water in a vacuum jar boils even though it is below room temperature. As the pumping proceeds, the water cools.
- Floating Ball | Pōro Rewa
- A ball is suspended in an upward column of air and prevented from moving sideways by the reduced pressure near the centre of the flow.
- Frozen Solid | Totoka Hohoro
- The behaviour of liquid nitrogen and objects cooled in liquid nitrogen.
Light and Waves
- Candle Under Water | Te Mura Raro Wai
- A ghostly candle appears to burn under water using a thinly-silvered mirror.
- Computer Colours | Ngā Tae Rorohiko
- Computer and cell phone displays, TV sets, and other imaging devices use RGB technology (red, green, and blue dots) to simulate colours and make an image.
- Depth Perception | Te Whiringa Kitenga Hohonu
- A series of experiments illustrating binocular depth perception.
- Human Eye Resolution | Te Kokinga o te Māhea o Ngā Whatu
- The angular resolution of the human eye is measured in a series of experiments: an easy to construct, astronomy-related demonstration/activity that illustrates the angular resolution of the human eye, colour sensitivity, and angular magnification.
- Is It Really Yellow? | He Kōwhai Rūkahu?
- An introductory human colour vision experiment: The difference between perceptive and spectral colours is examined.
- Peripheral Vision | He Whiringa Kite Rewha
- An experiment showing that peripheral vision is mostly colour blind. It is difficult to tell the colour of objects in your peripheral vision and they often appear black or grey.
- Seeing Colours | Kitenga Ta
- Human colour vision is explored in terms of cones and rods on the retina. The difference between perceptive and spectral colours is examined.
Mechanics
- Faith in Physics
- A heavy pendulum released from near a student's nose will return to the same height and not quite touch her/him.
- On Yer Bike | He Wīra Hurihuri
- A spinning bicycle wheel balances like magic while dangling from a string. The spinning wheel also causes a student to spin on a rotating stool.
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