Catalogue of Demonstrations

The demonstrations in this index include nearly all of the PIRA 200, as well as some local favorites.

The PIRA 200 represent the physics demonstrations most commonly used by major universities in the United States. Other demos outside of the Physics Instruction Resource Association’s Top 200 are so noted.

You can click on a demonstration’s name to view a description and other details about that demo.

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Area	Topic
1: Mechanics	1A — Measurement 1C — Motion in One Dimension 1D — Motion in Two Dimensions 1F — Newton’s First Law 1G — Newton’s Second Law 1H — Newton’s Third Law	1J — Statics of Rigid Bodies 1K — Applications of Newton’s Laws 1L — Gravity 1M — Work and Energy 1N — Linear Momentum and Collisions 1Q — Rotational Dynamics 1R — Properties of Matter 1S — Orbital Mechanics
2: Fluid Mechanics	2A — Surface Tension 2B — Fluid Statics	2C — Fluid Dynamics
3: Oscillations and Waves	3A — Oscillations 3B — Wave Motion 3C — Acoustics	3D — Instruments
4: Thermodynamics	4A — Thermal Properties of Matter 4B — Heat and the First Law 4C — Change of State 4D — Kinetic Theory	4E — Gas Law 4F — Entropy and the Second Law
5: Electricity and Magnetism	5A — Electrostatics 5B — Electric Fields and Potential 5C — Capacitance 5D — Resistance 5F — DC Circuits	5G — Magnetic Materials 5H — Magnetic Fields and Forces 5J — Inductance 5K — Electromagnetic Induction 5L — AC Circuits 5N — Electromagnetic Radiation
6: Optics	6A — Geometric Optics 6B — Photometry 6C — Diffraction 6D — Interference	6F — Color 6H — Polarization 6J — The Eye
7: Modern Physics	7A — Quantum Effects 7B — Atomic Physics	7D — Nuclear Physics

Catalogue of Demonstrations

PIRA Section 1: Mechanics

1A — Measurement

1C — Motion in One Dimension

1D — Motion in Two Dimensions

1F — Newton’s First Law

1G — Newton’s Second Law

1H — Newton’s Third Law

1J — Statics of Rigid Bodies

1K — Applications of Newton’s Laws

1L — Gravity

1M — Work and Energy

1N — Linear Momentum and Collisions

1Q — Rotational Dynamics

1R — Properties of Matter

1S — Orbital Mechanics

PIRA Section 2: Fluid Mechanics

2A — Surface Tension

2B — Fluid Statics

2C — Fluid Dynamics

PIRA Section 3: Oscillations and Waves

3A — Oscillations

3B — Wave Motion

3C — Acoustics

3D — Instruments

PIRA Section 4: Thermodynamics

4A — Thermal Properties of Matter

4B — Heat and the First Law

4C — Change of State

4D — Kinetic Theory

4E — Gas Law

4F — Entropy and the Second Law

PIRA Section 5: Electricity and Magnetism

5A — Electrostatics

5B — Electric Fields and Potential

5C — Capacitance

5D — Resistance

5F — DC Circuits

5G — Magnetic Materials

5H — Magnetic Fields and Forces

5J — Inductance

5K — Electromagnetic Induction

5L — AC Circuits

5N — Electromagnetic Radiation

PIRA Section 6: Optics

6A — Geometric Optics

6B — Photometry

6C — Diffraction

6D — Interference

6F — Color

6H — Polarization

6J — The Eye

PIRA Section 7: Modern Physics

7A — Quantum Effects

7B — Atomic Physics

7D — Nuclear Physics