A collision of one object with two or more objects is relatively complicated in general, but a simple example is provided by Newton's cradle since all the objects are identical and in line. In the present paper, an experiment is described where a heavy mallet collides head-on with two billiard balls. The two conservation equations indicate that…

A simple method is described for measuring liquid density based on stretching of the spring and equilibrium of weight and elastic force. The method involves placing a container with liquid under test on the spring causing a stretch of the spring that is directly proportional to the weight of the liquid. With this technique, the liquid density can…

Photogates play an important part of many of today's physics laboratory experiments. They signal when an infrared (IR) beam is interrupted, thus supplying the experimenter with important timing information. Currently photogates use an infrared photodiode (IR transmitter) and a phototransistor (IR receiver). User-built photogates have a weakness…

Studying the dynamics of beams is considered an indispensable field for mechanical and civil engineering students. This paper describes, in detail, the use of smartphones in educational practical works to determine and examine the dynamic characteristics of beams subjected to free vibration. Where the smartphone is equipped with a mobile…

Although it originates from the ancient Greeks, optics still arouses a lot of scientific interest, mainly due to the technological innovation associated with it. One of its most interesting applications is related to optical metrology and the characterization of materials through optical techniques. While some of these processes can be explained…

Demonstration interviews with 27 high school students (18-19 years old) were conducted in Zagreb, Croatia, using several standard experiments on interference and diffraction of light. Students were asked for their predictions, observations, and explanations of the experiments. In this process, many student difficulties were identified, both…

We have developed a stereo vision system for observing real objects for experimental physics demonstration. The stereo vision observes objects from two different points of view. An observer can identify the distance and velocity of an object based on at least two different points of view. This paper demonstrates our comprehensive observation in a…

Since the vibration of a single pendulum is very periodic, measuring its period is a very interesting topic. When students are asked to measure the period of a single vibration, they start and stop the stopwatch when the pendulum reaches the top point as a reference point. In this paper, we try to show that the error can be reduced more by using…

In one of the Faraday's experiments an electric current is induced in a conducting loop when a magnet in front of it moves towards or away from the loop. While the direction of circulation of the electric current in the loop has only two options, it depends on three experimental conditions that generate eight cases. Even though the Faraday law or…

We describe here a low-cost experiment for introductory physics students where they compare the physical properties of aluminum and steel by means of cantilever oscillations. This, in turn, allows the students to improve their physical intuition about these materials. Further, the students can apply their physics and mathematics knowledge and…

A cost-effective method has been developed with utmost efficiency for the determination of density of a liquid. The experimental setup for this purpose is a Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinder fitted with an overflow spout, a volume measuring cylinder, a wooden block along with a hook and a known mass taken from scientific weight box. For this…

The Van de Graaff (VDG) generator is ubiquitous in the physics laboratory, but the high-voltage discharges that emanate from it can cause user discomfort or damage to nearby electronics during experimentation. In this work, an augmented reality (AR) tool is developed to help students conduct the experiment safely. More specifically, it allows them…

In diffraction experiments, natural gratings often create uncommon diffraction patterns compared with those resulting from manufactured gratings. This study analyzed a unique diffraction pattern obtained by a grating from a flying termite wing. A ring-like diffraction pattern was formed because of the grating morphology from a flying termite wing,…

In this paper, a very simple and low-cost setup design is described for the Seebeck coefficient measurement of the disc and rod-shaped specimens. The setup has been tested for its reliable working by measuring the Seebeck coefficients of standard samples; measured values match with the literature. The setup can be built with commonly available raw…

As intriguing optical phenomena that occur in nature, mirages are widely known and often mentioned in physics classes when introducing the basics of optics. In the atmosphere, a mirage occurs under the condition of vertical variations in air density, which are usually caused by a temperature gradient. The light rays are continuously refracted and…