Measurement and Kinematics

Monkey released from platform is shot by simultaneously fired cannon.

What it shows:

This is a demonstration of the independence of the horizontal and vertical components of velocity of a projectile. Often referred to as "the monkey and hunter," the problem...

Which road is faster? A kinematics concept Puzzler.

What it shows:

Horizontal and vertical motions are independent of each other.

How it works:

Two balls, starting with the same initial horizontal velocity, take two different paths: the one taking the high...

Ball shot up from PASCO cart is caught by same; a puzzler to ponder if track is tilted and cart accelerates down (or decelerates up).

Ball shot horizontally, one dropped vertically; both hit the ground at the same time.

What it shows:

The horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile are independent of each other. So two objects falling under the influence of gravity from the same...

Ball drops from mast of PASCO cart; its motion can be considered relative to the moving cart or the track frame of reference.

Glider acceleration by an inclined air track or by a falling weight/string attachment; large ballbearing rolling on PASCO track (with strings).

Time lapse image of a ping pong ball rolling down an inclined track. The bottom image has computer generated...

Aluminum/Uranium and SF₆/Air/Helium density comparisons.

What It Shows

The concept of mass per unit volume, aka density, is shown by having several different substances on hand for comparison. In solid materials, we have equal size chunks¹ of aluminum (2...

What It Shows

Rumor has it that one day at the cathedral, Galileo watched the swinging of a chandelier after it had been displaced and lit. By using his own pulse as a timer, he...

Time signals from U.S. Naval Observatory.

What It Shows

There are several services to help the scientist keep time. Some of these can be brought into the lecture hall. Students can listen to the time signals from WWVB (60 kHz signal from Colorado) on a...

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Standard meter sticks and selection of cubic volumes. 

What It Shows

No temperature-controlled platinum rods here – just some sticks that are very close to a meter in length. Standard meter sticks as well as cubic centimeters and decimeters are...