Model States of Matter
[M | t+ | —]
Large Styrofoam balls, suspended in air, in a plastic bag, and glued together, represent gaseous, liquid, and solid states, respectively.
OHP Kinetic Theory Model
[M | t+ | ★★★]
Simulation of molecular motion (Brownian, diffusion, etc.) with ball bearings on shaking table.
[In-Depth Description]
Brownian Motion of Latex Spheres
[M | t | ★★★★]
Brownian motion of latex spheres, suspended in water, is observed under a microscope.
[In-Depth Description]
Brownian Motion of Smoke Particles
[S | t+ | ★★★]
Smoke cell under microscope; smoke particles seen bombarded by air molecules.
[In-Depth Description]
Golf Ball Atmosphere
[L | t | ★★★]
Demonstration of molecular motion and pressure using golf balls.
[In-Depth Description]
Boltzmann Distribution
[M | t+ | —]
Mechanical analog of energy level populations which models a gas at essentially any temperature.
Air Spring
[S/M | t | —]
A piston in a cylinder is hit with a mallet and behaves as if the cylinder were full of springs.
Magdeburg Hemispheres
[M | t+ | ★★★]
When evacuated, held together by bombardment of atmospheric molecules.
[In-Depth Description]
Collapse of 55 Gallon Drum
[L | t+ | ★★★]
Drum evacuated by vacuum pump; crushed by atmospheric bombardment.
[In-Depth Description]
Water Vapor Pressure
[M | t+ | —]
A small amount of water, added to a vessel, results in an increase in pressure, as evidenced by an increase in volume.
Change of Volume with State
[M | t+ | ★★]
CO2 and He balloons in liquid nitrogen.
[In-Depth Description]
Joule-Thomson Cooling
[M | t | —]
Rapidly expanding CO2 gas from a fire extinguisher cools to become solid (dry ice).
Diffusion of Hydrogen
[M | t+ | —]
Hydrogen, diffusing through porous ceramic, pressurizes a wash-bottle to produce a fountain.
Diffusion of Bromine Gas
[M | t++ | —]
Gas jar containing bromine linked to second containing air; diffusion can be seen as brown coloration of air jar.
Diffusion of Colored Water
[M | t+ | —]
Food coloring placed at bottom of water filled jar. Diffusion seen as color moves upwards through clear water.
OHP Diffusion & Effusion Simulation
[M | t+ | —]
Simulation using ball bearings on shaking table.
Osmotic Carrot
[M | t++ | —]
A hollow carrot filled with sugar water demonstrates osmotic pressure when placed in clean water.
Contact Us
Mailing Address: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Campus Location: Science Center B-08A | Tel: (617) 495-5824 | Email: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu