Available online
Description
Mike Pentz introduces the concept of measuring the velocity of a moving body through indirect means. To illustrate his point, he fires an airgun pellet into a cylinder able to move freely on an air... track. Alan Walton demonstrates the principle of conservation of momentum using an air track and bodies of equal mass and different mass. Momentum is transferred from one body to the other. Speed of the moving bodies is calculated in an experiment which uses photoelectric cells wired to an oscilloscope to monitor the motion. In this experiment one body moving at a known velocity collides with a stationary body which is set in motion. The speed of the second body is then calculated. Walton performs the same experiment using magnetised bodies which repel each other before actual collision. He finds that momentum is still conserved. Pentz uses an air cushion table to introduce the principle of conservation of momemtum in two dimensions. This sequence explains and demonstrates a technique for measuring the velocity of light. Russell Stannard sets up a model of the apparatus to be used to measure the velocity of light. He explains how it works. Stannard at the Royal Society, London, with the Society's experimental apparatus for measuring light velocity. He explains how the apparatus works. Speed of light is measured with this apparatus. Electric sparks are used as light sources. The light pulses travel over two different measured courses - one long, one short. The difference in time taken to cover the courses, is used to calculate the velocity. Relativity is discussed and demonstrated in an animated cartoon. Two observers, one stationary, the other in motion, see pulses of light. Velocity of light pulses appears constant to each observer no matter what his position and speed.
Mike Pentz introduces the concept of measuring the velocity of a moving body through indirect means. To illustrate his point, he fires an airgun pellet into a cylinder able to move freely on an air... track. Alan Walton demonstrates the principle of conservation of momentum using an air track and bodies of equal mass and different mass. Momentum is transferred from one body to the other. Speed of the moving bodies is calculated in an experiment which uses photoelectric cells wired to an oscilloscope to monitor the motion. In this experiment one body moving at a known velocity collides with a stationary body which is set in motion. The speed of the second body is then calculated. Walton performs the same experiment using magnetised bodies which repel each other before actual collision. He finds that momentum is still conserved. Pentz uses an air cushion table to introduce the principle of conservation of momemtum in two dimensions. This sequence explains and demonstrates a technique for measuring the velocity of light. Russell Stannard sets up a model of the apparatus to be used to measure the velocity of light. He explains how it works. Stannard at the Royal Society, London, with the Society's experimental apparatus for measuring light velocity. He explains how the apparatus works. Speed of light is measured with this apparatus. Electric sparks are used as light sources. The light pulses travel over two different measured courses - one long, one short. The difference in time taken to cover the courses, is used to calculate the velocity. Relativity is discussed and demonstrated in an animated cartoon. Two observers, one stationary, the other in motion, see pulses of light. Velocity of light pulses appears constant to each observer no matter what his position and speed.
| Module code and title: | S100, S100 Science foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S100; 03 |
| Recording date: | 1971-01-24 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:24:30 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Jim Stevenson |
| Contributors: | Michael Pentz; Russell Stannard; Alan Walton |
| Publisher: | Open University |
| Subject terms: | Ballistics; Aerodynamics; Momentum (Mechanics); Light--Speed; Relativity (Physics) |
| Master spool number: | 00520/1144 |
| Production number: | JOUZ358W |
| Videofinder number: | 2781 |
| Available to public: | no |
