Code Number: 1M30.30

Demo Title: Wood Pecker

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Vibrations

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment:

Woodpecker on a stick demo.

Procedure:

Move the woodpecker to the top of the rod. Start the woodpecker to vibrating. It will continue to vibrate as long as it can slide down the rod.

Some Experiments: Does changing the mass of the bird change the travel time? Does the location of the mass on the bird change the travel time? Does changing the angle of the rod effect the travel time?

References:

Ron Edge, "The Bouncy Paper Clip - Potential and Kinetic Energy", TPT, Vol. 38, # 8, Nov. 2000, p. 470.
Richard Crane, How Things Work: "A Reluctant Hourglass and a Backing-Down Woodpecker", TPT, Vol. 31, # 9, Dec. 1993, p. 532.
Jodi and Roy McCullough, "Forces with a Falling Monkey", The Role of Toys in Teaching Physics, p. 4.68.

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.

Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations

1M30.30 - Wood Pecker

Disclaimer