121 Plus 9 Physics Experiments

What would happen if you were to connect the positive and negative terminals of a cell together without placing a bulb, motor, or some sort of resistance in the circuit?Answer: If the circuit were left on for more than a few minutes, you’d ruin the cell (and if the current source was large enough, you’d […]

There is a limit to the amount of information that your brain can process. Think of a cartoon flipbook. When you observe a rapidly flipped sequence of drawings, it becomes impossible to distinguish individual frames. Instead, your brain gets fooled into “seeing” the illusion of continuous action.In this experiment, you’ll construct a type of strobe

Do all types of material are attracted to a magnet? In this experiment, we will find out which material is attracted and which is not.Things Required:Magnet coins: penny, nickel, quarter, dimeIron nailPaper clipAluminium foil, small coin-sized piecePencil paper Directions:Touch the magnet to every object. The pencil has several parts: eraser, metal band, wood and pencil

Dimmers are great devices. Some of these circuit components are attached to ceiling lights or floor lamps. As you rotate the dimmers knob, the light gets brighter or dimmer.Things Required:Pencil (or just a piece of pencil lead AKA graphite)Two “D” cells in battery holdersOne torch bulb in lamp holderConnecting wires with each end stripped 1½

Suppose you mixed blue and yellow pigments. You’d expect to see green.Suppose you mixed red and white pigments. You’d expect to see pink. But suppose you looked at a spinning disc that had a black-and-white pattern. What colour or shade would you expect this blur to be? Make a guess. Then be prepared for a

The intention of this experiment is to demonstrate how electricity and magnetism are related.Things Required:Wire-wrapped nail from Electromagnet experiment6-volt batteryMasking tapeCardboard, 6 inches (15 cm) squareIron filingsScissorsDirections:Ask an adult to punch a hole through the centre of the cardboard, using a nail. Insert the wire-wrapped nail through the hole in the cardboard. Make the cardboard

Although this next experiment involves drawing yet, don’t worry. You don’t have to be an artist. All you have to do is copy simple symbols and arrange them to represent electric circuits. So, pick up your pencil and give it a try!Things Required:PencilA sheet of paperDirections:Examine the symbols below. They represent different parts of a

You are doing it right now. Although you are totally unaware of it yet, your brain is flipping everything it sees right-side up. Without this brain flip, your world would look as topsy-turvy as the images cast upon your retina.But suppose an image was somehow projected right-side up. Would your brain know the difference and

Take a look around you. Most likely, there’s a nearby wall switch. Although you can’t see it yet, the wall switch is connected to electrical wires that lead to a light fixture. When you flip the switch to the “on” position, the light goes on. Flip the switch “off’ and the light magically goes off.Things

All shadows are created equal, are not they? Hold your hand several inches above this book. Raise and lower your hand while you observe your shadow. Does the appearance of the shadow change? If so, how? When is the shadow sharpest? When is it darkest?Things Required:Scrap paper, Carbon paper, Pair of scissors,Torch, Wax paper, Rubber

In this easy experiment we will make an electromagnet or in other words we will try to find out how an electric current produces a magnetic field.Things Required:Wire, 18-gauge, insulated, 1 yd. (1 m)6-volt batteryLong iron nailPaper clips Directions:Wrap the wire tightly around the nail, leaving about 6 inches (15 cm) of free wire on

Soap bubbles represent a delicate balance of forces. Water tension creates the force that holds the thin film of the bubble together. Soap within the bubble solution offsets these forces and allows the bulb to stabilize. This results in a lightweight sphere whose shape is easily changed by static forces.Things Required:Bubble solutionDrinking strawMug or plastic

The projection room at the back of a movie theatre is a cool place. That’s because the room has an incredible network of cold air pipes. This frigid air, however, isn’t meant to keep the projectionist comfortable. It is sent straight to the movie-making machines. There, it cools the projectors and the movie film. Without

Does shaking has any effect on a magnet? This is what we are going to find out.Things Required:Iron filingsCompassMagnetDrinking strawModeling clay Directions:Fill the straw three-quarters full with iron filings. Use the clay to seal both ends of the straw. Lie the iron-filled straw on the magnet for one minute. Being careful not to shake the

As you’ve learnt, like charges repel while unlike charges attract. You’ve also observed how charges can be transferred from one object to another. The following experiment uses both of these concepts. After building it, figure out how this tool might be used to measure charges.Things Required:Metal clothes hanger12-inch-long threadTwo plastic foam “peanuts”BalloonDirections:Hold the hook of