Faith in Physics
Introduction
Abstract
A heavy pendulum released from near a student’s nose will return to the same height and not quite touch her/him.
Principles Illustrated
Conservation of Energy. Pendulum motion.
Content
Video
English version
Instructions
Mount the ball securely and let swing. See safety notes below.
Other Information
Safety
It is very easy for a student to accidentally move forward during the demonstration and get a nasty bang. Be sure the pendulum is not angled upward as this will give it extra energy, and be sure the mount is secure and cannot slip. See illustration below. In general, it is probably best to use the video or substitute a glass or egg for the students if you do not have time to test the apparatus carefully.
Individual teachers are responsible for safety in their own classes. Even familiar demonstrations should be practised and safety-checked by individual teachers before they are used in a classroom.
Credits
This teaching resource was developed by the Te Reo Māori Physics Project with support from
- Te Puni Kōkiri
- The MacDiarmid Institute
- Faculty of Science, Victoria University of Wellington
- School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington
- The New Zealand map shown on the poster frame above is used with permission from www.nz.com.
- The photo of Clyde Dam was provided by Dr. Gillian Turner in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington.
- The photos of the generator and tailrace at Clyde Dam Power Station was provided by Contact Energy.
- The photo of Huntly Power Station was provided by The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Click here.