
Lecture Description
Of all the things of Nature WATER must rank as one of the strangest. It is indeed an incredible STUFF. Its behavior is uncommon and its properties serve man in extraordinary ways.
A. We first show the changes which occur when we consider ONE gram
of ice at 0°C to which heat energy is conveyed. We note that in
CHANGE OF STATE no change in temperature takes place. The
Heat energy therefore must go into "tearing" the bonds which hold
the stuff together. We discover from this sequence of operations
that the liquid state is more "energetic" than the solid state and
the vapour (vapor) state - or gaseous - more energetic than the
liquid.
B. We observe the behavior of a thermometer in a beaker of ice. As
the ice melts we might - if we did not know better! - we might
expect the thermometer to show a rise. But it does not. As long
as any vestige of ice remains the thermometer will read 0°C -
if this is the temperature of the ice to begin with. Change of state - NO change in temperature.
C. Consider a glass of ice-and-water — so called ice-water - resting on the table. Let the vessel be FULL absolutely full.
That means that some ice is ABOVE the level of the water. Now as time goes some ice melts. Question: Will the water run over — will the glass - as we say - overflow? Answer: NO. Since 1. 1 cmJ of ice = 1.0 cm of water. Most of the ice of an iceberg is below the level of the sea. Question that comes to me suddenly: Is an iceberg salty?
D. We take a huge block of ice - support it on a platform - and
put around it a wire loaded on both ends. The wire in due course
'sinks" into the ice - cuts into the ice. .The pressure of the wire melts the ice - the water which arises again freezes. This process is called regelation. We encounter this when we make a snowball by squeezing the snow in hand. The snow melts under the pressure; the water refreezes and we have an "ice ball".
E. Here is a demonstration for engagement at the DINNER TABLE.
We have ice water served to each guest. Each guest is supplied
with a tiny length of string - three inches or so. The problem
is this: Get out a hunk of ice - a cube of ice - using the string as the agent for lifting out the ice. Some try to tie the string to a cube of ice! But it is too short for this! SOLUTION: Lay the string atop a hunk of ice. Gently pour on the string some fine salt from the salt shaker. Wait a few seconds. The salt melts some of the ice immediate to the string. This ice water at once refreezes. The string is thereby fixed to the ice. Now gently pull up on the free end of the string.
F. We show an array of photographs of men who gave us abundant
knowledge of these things. It is very important to have a mind to
MEN AND EVENTS and to the national origin of these people —
Maxwell — a Scot — Joule an Englishman — Bernoulli a Swiss —
and so on.
Course Index
- The Idea of the Center of Gravity
- Newton's First Law of Motion: Inertia
- Newton's Second Law of Motion: The Elevator Problem
- Newton's Third Law of Motion: Momentum
- Energy and Momentum
- Concerning Falling Bodies & Projectiles
- The Simple Pendulum and Other Oscillating Things
- Adventures with Bernoulli: Bernoulli's Principle
- Soap Bubbles and Soap Films
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Centrifugal Force and Other Strange Matters
- The Strange Behavior of Rolling Things
- Archimedes' Principle
- Pascal's Principle: The Properties of Liquids
- Levers, Inclines Planes, Geared-wheels and Other Machines
- The Ideas of Heat and Temperature
- Thermometric Properties and Processes
- How to Produce Heat Energy
- Thermal Expansion of Stuff: Solids
- Thermal Expansion of Stuff: Gases & Liquids
- The Strange Thermal Behavior of Ice and Water
- Heat Energy Transfer by Conduction
- Heat Energy Transfer by Convection
- Heat Energy Transfer by Radiation
- Evaporation, Boiling, Freezing: A Dramatic Adventure
- Miscellaneous Adventures in Heat
- The Drama in Real Cold Stuff: Liquid Nitrogen
- The Physics of Toys: Mechanical
- The Physics of Toys: Acoustic and Thermal
- Waves: Kinds of Properties
- Sound Waves: Sources of Sound & Pitch and Frequency
- Vibrating Bars and Strings: The Phenomenon of Beats
- Resonance: Forced Vibrations
- Sounding Pipes
- Vibrating Rods and Plates
- Miscellaneous Adventures in Sound
- Electrostatic Phenomena: Foundations of Electricity
- Electrostatic Toys, Part 1
- Electrostatic Toys, Part 2
- Adventures with Electric Charges
- Adventures in Magnetism
- Ways to "Produce" Electricity
- Properties and Effects of Electric Currents
- Adventures in Electromagnetism
- Further Adventures in Electromagnetism
- Miscellaneous and Wondrous Things in E&M
Course Description
Demonstrations in Physics was an educational science series produced in Australia by ABC Television in 1969. The series was hosted by American scientist Julius Sumner Miller, who demonstrated experiments involving various disciplines in the world of physics. The series was also released in the United States under the title Science Demonstrations.
This program was a series of 45 shows (approximately 15 minutes each) on various topics in physics, organized into 3 units: Mechanics; Heat and Temperature / Toys; and Waves and Sound / Electricity and Magnetism.