Falling chimney : When a tall chimney falls it sometimes breaks into two parts before it hits the ground. Investigate and explain this. Twisted rope : Hold a rope and twist one end of it. At some point the rope will form a helix or a loop. Investigate and explain the phenomenon. Loaded hoop : Fasten a small weight to the inside of a hoop and set the hoop in motion by giving it an initial push. Investigate the hoop’s motion. Water bombs : Some students are ineffective in water balloon fights as the balloons they throw rebound without bursting. Investigate the motion, deformation, and rebound of a balloon filled with fluid. Under what circumstances does the balloon burst? Electromagnetism Efficiency of a bicycle dynamo Efficiency of a DC motor A dynamo as a speedometer (conversion to accelerometer?) Efficiency of a transformer Saturation effects in a transformer Effect of air gaps in transformers or electromagnets Eddy current losses in transformers (solid core) Stray fields around transformers Variations in potential in a tank of conducting liquid The time taken for ions to recombine (e.g. blown down-wind of a flame) Torque-speed variations of a turntable motor An electroscope as a voltmeter The sensitivity of an electroscope as a charge measuring device The contraction of a spiral carrying a current The effect of thickness of metal on eddy current forces How high will a 'jumping ring' jump? (A ring over an iron core with a coil carrying a.c. on the core) The dependence of the speed of a DC motor on field current Change in length of a nickel rod in a magnetic field The design of an alternating current ammeter Does a flame conduct electricity? Does hot air conduct electricity?
Falling chimney : When a tall chimney falls it sometimes breaks into two parts before it hits the ground. Investigate and explain this. Twisted rope : Hold a rope and twist one end of it. At some point the rope will form a helix or a loop. Investigate and explain the phenomenon. Loaded hoop : Fasten a small weight to the inside of a hoop and set the hoop in motion by giving it an initial push. Investigate the hoop’s motion. Water bombs : Some students are ineffective in water balloon fights as the balloons they throw rebound without bursting. Investigate the motion, deformation, and rebound of a balloon filled with fluid. Under what circumstances does the balloon burst? Electromagnetism Efficiency of a bicycle dynamo Efficiency of a DC motor A dynamo as a speedometer (conversion to accelerometer?) Efficiency of a transformer Saturation effects in a transformer Effect of air gaps in transformers or electromagnets Eddy current losses in transformers (solid core) Stray fields around transformers Variations in potential in a tank of conducting liquid The time taken for ions to recombine (e.g. blown down-wind of a flame) Torque-speed variations of a turntable motor An electroscope as a voltmeter The sensitivity of an electroscope as a charge measuring device The contraction of a spiral carrying a current The effect of thickness of metal on eddy current forces How high will a 'jumping ring' jump? (A ring over an iron core with a coil carrying a.c. on the core) The dependence of the speed of a DC motor on field current Change in length of a nickel rod in a magnetic field The design of an alternating current ammeter Does a flame conduct electricity? Does hot air conduct electricity?
Examples-of-investigations.docx