Physics 123 Weeks 2 & 3 (Electric Potential, Fields, and Capacitors)
Electric Fields
Torque on a Dipole
When you charge two parallel plates with opposite charge you will create a uniform electric field between them. If this football shaped object is in between the plates its charges will separate creating a dipole, which will then rotate to align itself in the electric field.
Radio Silence
After turning on this hand held radio, slowly lower it a Faraday cage. The signal will cut out as the cage acts as an electromagnetic shield! Be careful though, your hand and fingers can act as an antenna maintaining signal!
Van de Graaff Generator
These electrostatic charge generators are a great way to excite your students and investigate multiple examples of static charge and the Coulomb force. Make sure that you have a grounding rod connected to the VdG to avoid a shock.
Wimshurst Machine
While rotating the crank clockwise, you can use a Wimshurst Machine to show static discharge, energy stored in capacitors, creating static charge, and in tandem wit our electrostatic pom poms to create a visualization of electric field lines!
Capacitors and Capacitance
Capacitor Examples
We have an assortment of capacitors mounted on a display board. Along with these there is also a printout of common capacitor values and their relevant units.
Capacitor Basics
Use a static charge generator to charge up two parallel plates with opposite charge. Then, vary the distance between the two plates while a capacitor is hooked up in parallel with the plates to show students how capacitance varies with distance.
Electrostatic Doorbell
A conductive sphere is placed between two oppositely charged parallel plates. Once the ball comes in contact with one of the plates, it will begin to bounce back and forth between the plates as long as their static charge is replenished.
Dielectrics
After charging two parallel plates with a static charge generator, hook up a capacitance meter. Then, insert different dielectric materials to show your students how they affect the capacitance.
Capacitors Store Energy
Wimshurst Machine
While rotating the crank clockwise, you can use a Wimshurst Machine to show static discharge, energy stored in capacitors, creating static charge, and in tandem wit our electrostatic pom poms to create a visualization of electric field lines!
Hand Crank Generator
A hand crank generator can be hooked up to a capacitor, small light bulb, or other small electrical devices to show multiple concepts. Energy storage with a capacitor, electrical generator with a small light bulb, or a motor while hooked up to a battery.
Capacitor Charging and Discharging
**WARNING** Dangerous voltage potential.
This device can show many different concepts involving capacitors as it is charged or discharged through the lightbulb on top, or quickly by touching the terminals with a screw driver.
**DO NOT USE UNTIL YOU HAVE WATCHED THE VIDEO**