Questions tagged [home-experiment]
questions concerning measurements, experiments, and activities that demonstrate physics and are safe to do at home, require at most one tool or ingredient not readily available, and can be interpreted or analyzed on one sheet of paper with accessible math.
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In what direction would current flow in the coil?
I have two circular coils facing each other in parallel. Through one coil current flows. I move the second coil in a parallel fashion.
What is the direction of current induced on the moving coil?
Acc. ...
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Calculating temperature when it is lower than your thermometers can read?
We have an old freezer. I believe the thermostat is broken and think it may run all the time. Food in it gets really cold (Ice cream like concrete). I've tried measuring the temp with a freezer ...
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Is there a reason why when a parallel-plate setup is immersed under water, the potential difference between them reduces?
I will elaborate upon this question as follows.
I was trying to devise an experiment to observe equipotential surfaces of different charge configurations, using a movable probe connected to a ...
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Discrepancy between theory and real life: spool and mass system connected via pulley
I was given this problem in physics class. My teacher said that they reached the ground at the same time, but when I tested it out (video), I got drastically different results. I showed the professor ...
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I was wondering if it was possible to make a homemade particle accelerator, and if so, how? [duplicate]
I was wondering if it was possible to make a homemade particle accelerator and if so, how would I?
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Can lasers really show microbes in water?
I used a 532 nm green laser and passed its beam through a water droplet. Can you explain me are these really microbes and if they are then how a laser is able to do so?
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How do we know what physics or science textbook said is correct? [closed]
I have a question. I have a problem that when I learn science, I like to think 'how do they know this is right?'.
When we learn physics or science from a textbook, we read and understand it, and then ...
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Is it possible to make real DIY microscope with several lens?
I have alot of small double convex 7 mm lenses and i have very small lens 4mm
And i have plano concave lenses all of them is small
I tried to combining them to get a magnified image and it worked when ...
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Why does a long rectangular cardboard thrown in air start spinning automatically?
A long rectangular cardboard thrown in air starts spinning automatically on its way down. Few observations in this experiment:
Long rectangular cardboard pieces spin well
Doesn't work well with ...
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How the potential difference (PD) between two electrodes changes with electrolyte concentration and distance? [closed]
I set up the following experiment
I keep the black probe fixed to the left electrode. I moved the red probe at different points. I measure a voltage, basically the potential difference (PD) between ...
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Can we design an experiment or an intuitive way to demonstrate tidal locking?
I was explaining the tidal locking phenomenon to a friend. First I started with the formation of solar system and how at the beginning the planets were actually like balls of magma-esque rocks. And ...
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Double-slit experiment with photons slit measurement for high school
I know how to perform the double slit experiment in high school: a dark room, a source of light like a consumer electronics laser, a black board, and a card board with double slits.
Is there way to ...
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What are the physical concepts that can be associated with the operation of a hydraulic arm? [closed]
I am developing a project that requires an explanation of the physical concepts behind something applicable, like in the industry. I have chosen to describe the concepts behind the operation of a ...
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How can i find the value of Planck's constant using Black body radiation?
I'm working for a physics project for Highschool, and i'm currently thinking about using black body radiation to measure Planck's constant. I know there is an option using the photoelectric effect but ...
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Do you have to know which radiation type are you measuring with a geiger counter to correctly estimate the equivalent dose rate?
for a while now, I have been working on my own DIY geiger counter. I was able to make some more or less functional devices, which all were working around old soviet SBM-20 GM tube. I want to do a ...
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Observed frequencies of a drum versus mathematically predicted frequencies
I built a small circular drum in order to compare the actual resonant frequencies versus the resonant frequencies predicted by modeling it as a circular membrane obeying the wave equation with fixed ...
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Energy of an x-ray generated by cathode ray
I'm trying to understand if I could capture the event of generation of an electron positron pair from a gamma ray inside a cloud chamber. So far I've been thinking of using a cathode ray tube as a ...
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Condensation on the side of a cloud chamber
I'm trying to build a cloud chamber using a peltier thermoelectric cooler. So far, I've managed to detect some particles, but their trails are very weak (I've used a high voltage generator, about 4kV, ...
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Unexpected laser pattern through calcite crystal
I've bought a calcite crystal and tried to see birefringence by shining a laser through it.
I get a split spot in the centre of a sixfold pattern
The hexagonal pattern resembles a diffraction pattern,...
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Weight of magnet depends on its N-S orientation?
I weighed a Neodymium disc magnet and found that it weighs about $1$ mg more when the north pole is upwards than when the south pole is upwards.
Can this be explained by "conventional" ...
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Is this an accidental interference pattern?
I recently purchased this laser level. When I turned it on, I got excited when I noticed that it projected this interesting pattern on the wall:
Is this an interference pattern? I don't know much ...
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What is the relationship between the different frequency vs decibel graph peaks in the famous 'mass of coin question'?
In the popular answer for the coin-mass question of Physics Stack Exchange,
So, I decided to try it out. I used Audacity to record ~5 seconds of sound that resulted when I dropped a penny, nickel, ...
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Can I find the maximum magnetic flux of my magnet knowing the magnetic flux density? (and also for multiple stacked together) [closed]
I'm working on an extended essay in physics for IB with my experiment relating to the magnet down a copper tube experiment. I'm trying to find the terminal velocity with my independent variable being ...
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Are there everyday materials that change color, depending on illumination spectrum?
Initially I wanted to ask this exact question about color change due to "white" light source spectrum change, and the accepted answer satisfies me fully.
However the answer says that most of ...
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Prevent Foucault's Pendulum from an Ellipticity
I am using a 15kg dumbbell as the bob of a Foucault's pendulum attached to a string of 4 meters. However, using the common method of burning a wire to set the bob in motion, it will begin to oscillate ...
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Is household alluminium foil good for observing photoelectric effect?
I have built an electroscope(very primitive, just a wire and some aluminum foil). I'm thinking about using it to observe the photoelectric effect. But I don't have any high frequency wave producing ...
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Inverted Pascal's barrel
Pascal's barrel is an experiment that shows the counterintuitive nature of how pressure increases linearly in depth according to $p=p_0+\rho gz$, where $z$ is the depth. The experiment consists of a ...
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Why is floating debris above a vortex stationary with respect to the container?
I noticed the phenomenon that a spinning vortex with an initially corotating surface (as identifiable from the movement of floating debris or bubbles in it) appears to quickly stop spinning when ...
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Relation between input electrical power and output mechanical power of DC motor
I am trying to understand how to calculate the mechanical power output of a DC motor. My thinking is as follows.
I believe that the power input should equal to the mechanical power output plus some ...
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How to find the distance travelled by a pendulum powered car? [closed]
I'm having trouble finding an equation that find the distance travelled by a pendulum powered car based on the weight of the pendulum bob, the length of the pendulum and the angle where the pendulum ...
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How do sand balls retain their integrity for so long?
A friend showed me how to make sand balls at the beach, like shown here on this YouTube video.
We were both wondering how they managed to keep their shape way longer than any other sandcastle bits. I’...
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How to figure out whether vacuum or air is inside a bottle?
I'm trying to figure out how air tight the sealing of a bottle is. A friend is crafting privately beer and is using a machine like this (though the depicted one below is much more advanced..):
For ...
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Why dont we consider centripetal force in the expression for net force in specific circular motion problems? [closed]
I came across a problem in a circular motion which includes a stone tied to the end of a string. They asked for the net force at the highest point and the lowest point, but in the answer, they never ...
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Standing waves in a resonance tube
I am doing an experiment about standing waves in a resonance tube. I use a bucket of water, a waterproof tube (open at both ends), and a frequency generator app. I have two set-ups, A and B:
A. ...
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Possible Explanation for Behaviour Non-Linear Bead Knot Experiment
I have a very simple setup to study non-linear phenomena with plastic beads, as described here:
E. Ben-Naim, Z.A. Daya, P. Vorobieff, and R.E. Ecke, “Knots and Random Walks in Vibrated Granular ...
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What curve does a stiff whisker flexing in oscillation due to inertia express? [duplicate]
Take a short length of stiff but flexible straight wire (I used ~5cm of ~0.1mm diameter brass) and hold it tightly at the base, then flick the tip. The wire will then rapidly oscillate in flexing back ...
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Permanent rainbow
Yesterday I saw a rainbow that lasted for minutes (typical Hamburg weather; little did I know the record is hours) and googled around a bit. You can easily make a permanent rainbow with nail polish, ...
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A Friction Problem (Experimentation)
A Square dice $( 0.8$ cm $\times$ $0.8$ cm$)$ face is noted and it is released exactly $1$ cm from a ground with Friction coefficient $(\mu = 0.25 )$ (say).
What is the chance that the dice rolls?
...
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Need help with solution on a physics calculation involving newtonian mechanics - (angular momentum) [closed]
I have been looking into conservation of energy in association with angular momentum (or in simple terms perpetual-motion-machines).
Specifically need an answer to the following -
Let's say there is a ...
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If you were encased in an iron block and dropped from a building, what would happen? [closed]
Imagine that you are inside a box made of iron. You are surrounded by iron and there is no gap between you and the iron. Assume you can breathe (but it doesn't matter). I said iron but it could be any ...
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What are the methods to measure drag caused by an airfoil in a common high school labatory?
I am currently planning to do an investigation on aircraft flaps. I am trying to find a correlation between the angle of the flaps setting and the lift-drag ratio (coefficient of lift over the ...
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What if there were no surface tension in the upside-down water cup trick?
There is a famous trick that goes as follows. Take a cup/glass that is partially filled with water. Place an index card over the top. Turn the entire thing upside-down (while keeping the index card at ...
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Acceleration of center of mass [closed]
Have come across that acceleration of center of mass is the net force divided by the total mass,
my query is if a block of mass m is placed on an incline of mass M and the incline is dragged to the ...
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Logistics of Recreating the Michaelson-Morley Experiment
I want to recreate the Michaelson-Morley Experiment and am wondering how technically challenging it would be. I'm not looking for it to be super precise, just good enough to provide reasonable ...
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Falling yoyo experiment
I was playing with a yoyo and a spring dynamometer and realized the tension during the fall is not constant but clearly has a small oscillatory component. This experimental result contradicts the ...
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What experiments could demonstrate the skin effect? [closed]
I am in need of different experiment ideas to demonstrate how electromganetic waves are attenuated by the mediums they travel through. Anyone has any ideas?
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Why won't this electromagnet home experiment work?
I'm trying one of the most basic physics home experiments: creating an electromagnet by wrapping electrically-conductive wire around a metal screw.
My ingredients:
a metal screw
I don't know the ...
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How does a plate stick to a tablemat?
So at my dinner table, I witness this weird phenomenon almost everday.
A wet plate if placed on the table mat sticks to it(works better if the plate is made up of steel).
I account surface tension and ...
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Will light follow a stream of water?
I am a deep admirer of natural sciences, and especially physics, but, alas, only at a lay level; so I'll ask forgiveness in advance for my poor terminology and half-baked understanding of the ...
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What does Rotations per Second * 2Pi * (Wheel Radius / Gear Ratio) equate to? [closed]
Given the line of code,
(encoder.getVelocity() / 60) * (2 * Math.PI) * (IntakeConstants.WHEEL_RADIUS / IntakeConstants.GEARING)
where ...
