121 Plus 9 Physics Experiments

Take a look around you. Everything appears right-side up. Although this makes sense, yet it’s not how your eye sees it. Images that are cast upon your eye’s light-sensitive screen (called the retina) are upside down. It takes a learned brain trick to flip these images right-side up so that they may match the look […]

The purpose of this easy experiment is to demonstrate the pattern of magnetic force fields around the magnets of different shapes.Things Required:Magnets, a variety-round, bar, U-shapedIron filingsNotebook paperPaper cupDirections:Pour the iron filings into the paper cup. Place the magnets on a table. Cover the magnets with a sheet of paper. Sprinkle a thin layer of

Although gravity can be an incredible force yet, it requires huge masses to observe its effects readily. It is not so with electricity. In fact, a minor charge can easily be observed using a tool that is often associated with uncovering the length of an object.Things Required:Wooden rulerBalloon Directions:Position the wooden ruler so that it

Your eye contains a part called a lens. Like the lens of a camera, this eye-part focuses light. But unlike the glass lens of the camera, yours is made of living muscle. Like other types of muscle, it can stretch and contract. By changing its shape, the lens can focus distant or close-up objects onto

How can you find out the strength of a magnet? In the simple experiment you will learn more about the strength of a magnetic force field.Things Required:Box of small paper clipsBar magnets, several different sizesMasking tapeDirections:Tape the magnet to a table with part of the magnet extending over the edge of the table. Bend open

A versorium is a device that is used to detect a static charge. Its name means “thing used for turning”. It was given this name by its inventor about 400 years ago. Although times have changed, yet the principles that affected this tool haven’t.Things Required:Metal paper clipPaperA piece of wool or feltA pair of scissorsPlastic

You don’t have to be in the desert to see a mirage. Just look down a long road on a hot summer day. Most likely, you’ll see what looks like water or puddles on the road.As you approach this slick strip of road, however, it dries up. What happened? You just experienced a mirage. This

In this experiment we will use the magnetic force to suspend a paper aeroplane.Things Required:Steel straight pinSewing thread, 12 in. (30 cm)Tissue paperBar magnetScissors Directions:Cut a small wing about 1 inches (2.5 cm) long from the paper. Insert the pin through the centre of the paper wing to make an “aeroplane”. Tie the thread to

As the magician chanted the magic words, the rope responded. Slowly, it appeared above the rim of the basket. Up went the rope. Higher and higher it climbed, until its entire length stretched before the audience.Things Required:Plastic foam “peanuts”1-foot-long threadTapeA piece of wool or furBalloon Directions:Break off a segment of thread about a foot in

Close your eyes and look skyward. You can probably tell where the Sun is without looking. The warmth from its rays gives away the position of this nearby star.Imagine what would happen if you were able to concentrate the Sun’s rays. You’d produce a very bright spot. You’d also produce enough concentrated sunlight to burn

Can magnetic force move a floating object? We will try to find an answer to this question by performing this experiment.Things Required:Glass bowl, 2 qt. (2 litre)Sewing needleSewing threadMasking tapeBar magnet Directions:Fill the bowl three-quarters full with water. Cut two 12 inches (30 cm) pieces of thread. Tape both pieces of thread to one side

In this experiment, you will see the static shower of the puffs.Things Required:Section of LuciteTwo thick books (or stacks of smaller ones)Puffed cereal or pieces of plastic foamDirections:Place two thick books about 8 inches apart on a tabletop. The top of the books should reach several inches above the table.Scatter puffed cereal grains or pieces

Using Ray Maker which we have made in our earlier experiment we will try to redirect the rays in this experiment.Things Required:Ray-making tool (from “Ray Maker”)Hand lensClayTorchClear drinking glassWaterA drop of milkDirections:Fill a glass three-fourths full with water. Set this water-filled glass on a flat surface.Position the ray-making tool several inches from the glass. Turn

The function of this experiment is to determine if the north end of a magnet always points to the earth’s magnetic north pole.Things Required:CompassSewing threadSmall paper clipCellophane tapeRulerMagnetBook Directions:Cut a 12-inch (30 cm) piece of thread. Attach one end of the thread to the centre of the paper clip with a very small piece of

Puffed cereal grains are great materials or science experiments. Since they are light in weight, they do not require much force to move. In addition, the puffs easily transfer electric charges. Do you want to see? Just try this next experiment.Things Required:Puffed cereal grainsBalloonA piece of wool or furDirections:Stuff about a dozen grains of puffed