Breadcrumb
4B40.30 - Leslie's Cube
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Code Number: 4B40.30
Demo Title: Leslie's Cube
Condition: Good
Principle: Radiation of Heat from Different Surfaces
Area of Study: Thermodynamics
Equipment:
Black box with copper side & funnel - (Leslie's Cube), Teapot with water, Gas heater, Grill Lighter, Sensitive thermocouple, Multimeter (Analog of Digital).
Procedure:
Fill the cube with hot water before demonstrating. The painted and unpainted side will give different reading thus showing a black body radiation effect. Be sure to empty the cube afterwards to avoid mineral buildup. Set the multimeter to the most sensitive DC voltage scale ( 200 micro volts range ).
The four aluminum disks each have a different front surface finish. They are, gloss black, matte black, gloss aluminum, and matte aluminum. Each of the disks has a liquid crystal thermometer attached to the back side. Set the disks at equal distances from a heat source and monitor the temperature vs. time.
References:
- Ronald Bryan, "Why Shiny Metals Are Poor Emitters of Radiation", TPT, Vol. 45, # 4, April 2007, p. 222.
- "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 43, # 1, Jan. 2005, p. 47.
- "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 42, # 2, Feb. 2004, p. 118.
- George Barnes, "Jackrabbit Ears and Other Physics Problems", TPT, Vol. 28, # 3, p. 156, March 1990.
- Richard A. Bartels, "Do Darker Objects Really Cool Faster?", AJP, 244, Vol. 58, No. 3, March 1990.
- Hf-1: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
- Jearl Walker, "4.59, Black Robes and Black Sheep in the Desert", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 202.
- 4.5.5: John H. Moore, Christopher C. Davis, Michael A. Coplan, "Continuum Sources", Building Scientific Apparatus Second Edition, p. 196-199.
- Gerard L' E Turner, "Radiant Energy", Nineteenth-Century Scientific Instruments, p. 119-120.
- Yaakov Kraftmakher, "1.18, Kirhhoff's Rule", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 68.
- Tik L. Liem, "Which Coin Will Stay On Longer", Invitations to Science Inquiry - Supplement to 1st and 2nd Ed. p. 82.
- The Queen Catalogues Vol. II, Catalogue of Physical Instruments, No. 4975, p. 60.