Model Description This is a simple demonstration to introduce the basic principles of experimentation, analysis, and design in reference to axially loaded members. Copper wire is used to lift an object of known weight. In order to determine the minimum number of copper wire strands required to lift the load, students perform experiments, analysis, and […]
Model Description This is a simple demonstration of the basic principles underlying the behavior of materials subjected to an axial load. The demonstration can also be used to show the usefulness of stress-strain curves versus load-deformation curves. This demonstration should take 10 minutes. Engineering Principle The basic definitions for deformation and strain: where the axial […]
Model Description A thin rectangular sheet of rubber material is subject to an axial load. Stress blocks are painted or drawn on the rubber material. The stress blocks are oriented on a transverse plane (black square) and on a plane 45° from the transverse plane (red square). Students have previously learned that only normal stress […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of the concept of total energy. There are three principle components to total energy for introductory thermodynamics: potential energy, kinetic energy, and internal energy. This demonstration should take 3-5 minutes. Engineering Principle Total energy is the sum of all forms of energy for a system. In introductory thermodynamics it […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of the basic principles energy and energy transfer. It reinforces the concept that internal energy is one of the three forms of energy and that energy can be transferred as work. This demonstration should take 15 minutes. Engineering Principle Most students arrive to their basic Thermodynamics course with an […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of the fundamentals of the vapor power cycle in that it translates the internal energy of steam into mechanical then electrical power. This demonstration falls short of demonstrating the true vapor power cycle in that the steam is not returned to the boiler; instead it is vented as exhaust. […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of the relationship between density and buoyancy. It reinforces the concept that fluids that are less dense have a higher buoyancy. In the case of the lava lamp, this causes the “lava” to rise vertically as heating causes its density to change. This demonstration should take 3-5 minutes. […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of how pressure increases with temperature particularly at temperatures above the fluid’s boiling point. Warming the bottom chamber beyond the boiling point increases the pressure sufficiently to displace fluid into the upper chamber. This demonstration should take 5 minutes. Engineering Principle The pressure of a fluid increases as you […]
Model Description This is a demonstration designed to introduce the basic concepts of psychrometry, the adiabatic saturation or wet bulb temperature, sling psychrometers and the ASHRAE comfort zone. This demonstration should take 8-10 minutes. Engineering Principle This demonstration is best used in a Thermodynamics course when the topic of psychrometrics is introduced. It is designed […]
Model Description This is a demonstration of the concept of conservation of mass. By pouring an incompressible fluid (molasses), it is clearly demonstrated that as the velocity of the flow increases, the cross-sectional area of the flow must decrease. This demonstration should take 8-10 minutes. Engineering Principle Mass is conserved when the mass flow rate […]