https://www.physlab-wiki.com/ 2026-05-22T13:05:38+00:00 https://www.physlab-wiki.com/ https://www.physlab-wiki.com/lib/tpl/UChicago/images/favicon.ico text/html 2021-11-05T17:59:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/boyle_s_and_gay-lussac_s_laws_projection_apparatus?rev=1636149540&do=diff Boyle's and Gay-Lussac's Laws Projection Apparatus A transparent, graduated syringe is attached to a pressure gauge so that one can show the relationship between pressure and volume at constant temperature for air. Alternatively, the pressure gauge may be connected to a hollow metal ball that can be cooled with ice water to show the relationship between pressure and temperature at constant volume. By extrapolating a line plot of pressure versus temperature to zero pressure, one may deduce ab… text/html 2021-11-05T17:59:44+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/critical_point_of_co2?rev=1636149584&do=diff Critical Point of CO2 A glass vessel containing co-existing vapor and liquid phases of carbon dioxide at approximately 70 atm is heated, causing the contents to transform completely to the vapor state. As the system slowly cools and approaches the critical point, the phenomenon of text/html 2021-11-05T18:00:18+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/crush_soda_can_with_atmospheric_pressure?rev=1636149618&do=diff Crush Soda Can With Atmospheric Pressure A soda can containing about 20 ml of water is placed on a pre-heated hot plate. Once the water has begun to boil it is flipped over into an ice water bath. The rapid decrease in pressure inside the can allows it be crushed by atmospheric pressure. text/html 2025-06-02T11:17:38+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/fire_piston?rev=1748877458&do=diff Fire Piston A small piece (wisp) of flash cotton is placed at the bottom of a narrow, clear cylinder. When a piston is used to rapidly compress the air inside, the flash cotton ignites. Depending on the weight/width of the piston base, it is recommended that the piston be clamped onto a table. text/html 2021-11-05T18:01:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/ignite_hydrogen_balloon?rev=1636149679&do=diff Ignite Hydrogen Balloon A balloon filled with hydrogen gas is ignited. PIRA DCS 4BXX.XX text/html 2021-11-05T18:01:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/impact_heating?rev=1636149707&do=diff Impact Heating When a bowling ball is dropped onto a block of soft clay some of the kinetic energy of the ball is converted into heat. A change in temperature is observed in a block of soft clay a increase in temperature is observed. I1, L2, F2 text/html 2021-11-05T18:02:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/imploding_oil_drum?rev=1636149739&do=diff Imploding Oil Drum The air inside a 55 gallon steel oil drum is pumped out with a vacuum pump. When the pressure inside the drum is sufficiently reduced atmospheric pressure will cause the drum to violently collapse. PIRA DCS 2B30.20 F5 barrel attachment, pump on cart by workbench text/html 2021-11-05T18:02:50+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/liquid_nitrogen_bomb?rev=1636149770&do=diff Liquid Nitrogen Bomb A 20 ounce soda bottle is filled with liquid nitrogen to a height of 2 1/4 inches. The bottle is quickly capped, placed in a pan of water, and then covered with a plastic garbage can. The explosion of the bottle is so powerful that it sends the garbage can to a height of more than 20 feet. text/html 2021-11-05T18:03:16+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/magdeburg_hemispheres?rev=1636149796&do=diff Magdeburg Hemispheres When vacuum is applied to the volume enclosed by a pair of hemispheres they cannot be pulled apart. A valve on one of the hemispheres may be used so that the pump can be disconnected without disturbing the vacuum inside the apparatus. text/html 2021-11-05T18:03:40+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/radiometer?rev=1636149820&do=diff Radiometer A wheel consisting of four paddles, each colored black on one side and white on the other, spins when light is shone on it. If the radiometer is cooled it will spin in the opposite direction. P1 PIRA DCS 4D20.10 text/html 2022-07-25T14:55:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/stirling_engine?rev=1658775312&do=diff Stirling Engine A Stirling engine is operated to demonstrate the workings of this device. Setup Can be operated with hot or cold things, as long as there is a large enough temperature gradient. For hot: boil some water on a beaker and place engine on top of beaker. For cold: submerge a slab of metal in liquid nitrogen until nitrogen stops boiling; then place engine on top of cold slab. Cool observation: the steam based procedure can last a long time (half an hour or more) due to water's lar… text/html 2025-06-02T11:26:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/sulfur_hexafluoride_boat?rev=1748878017&do=diff Sulfur Hexafluoride Boat—Retired A glass aquarium is filled with sulfur hexafluoride gas. When a simple box-shaped boat made of aluminum foil is dropped into the aquarium it floats on top of the gas. One may scoop the invisible gas out of the aquarium and into the boat to make it sink. text/html 2025-06-02T11:22:52+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/thermodynamics_and_fluid_dynamics/thermodynamics/vacuum_cannon?rev=1748877772&do=diff Vacuum Cannon—Apparatus Under Construction A piece of PVC pipe with a ping pong ball inside is sealed at both ends with aluminum foil and evacuated with a vacuum pump. When one of the aluminum foil seals is ruptured, the ping pong ball is fired at very high velocity from the opposite end of the pipe.