Physical Science

Perform the classic demonstration “thermal expansion of metal” with this ball and ring apparatus. Brass ball passes freely through ring at room temperature but when the ball is heated in a flame, it no longer passes through the ring. Plastic or woode...

A specially insulated outer wall makes this quality calorimeter five times more sensitive than traditional instruments. It is constructed of an aluminum inner cylinder surrounded by a thick layer of styrofoam insulation, then enclosed in a durable pl...

Here it is-the easiest and most inexpensive way to determine the caloric content in solid foods. For instance, to determine the number of calories in a peanut simply suspend a flask containing 50 mL of water in the calorimeter, place a peanut of know...

Use this versatile double-walled calorimeter with or without the electric heating element. With the heating element students can determine the electrical equivalent of heat or use the calorimeter without the heating element as a standard double-walle...

Improve student results when conducting thermodynamic and heats of reaction experiments. The thick walls and lids make these calorimeters more effective than ordinary foam drinking cups by preventing heat loss in all directions. Their wide, stable ba...

Used to measure the amount of heat generated by an electrical circuit. When an electric current flows through a conductor, some of the electrical energy is converted to heat energy. This heat energy is referred to as joule heat. The greater the resis...

The perfect small-scale calorimeter! These high-quality, 2"-thick polystyrene calorimeters allow for quantitative thermodynamics experiments with only 15 mL of reagents. Smaller amounts provide faster results so several trials can be completed i...

A great introductory demonstration of thermal expansion, large enough to be seen in the back of the room. This bimetallic bar will bend dramatically when heated in a Bunsen burner due to the different thermal expansion rates of each metal used in the...

Investigate how different types of metals conduct heat as you hold the center of the conductometer over a flame. Small amounts of wax placed in wells at the end of each metal rod melt at different rates demonstrating the relative thermal conductivity...

Students will eagerly “take the heat” as they discover for themselves the basic principles of heat transfer with this series of four hands-on experiments. Students first test the thermal conductivity of different materials and compare their results w...

Help students understand the concept of convection currents with this very visual demonstration. Place a lighted candle under one chimney, then use a smoke source over the other chimney to reveal the flow of convection currents. The consequences of v...

Dramatically demonstrate the motion caused by the convection in a liquid. Fill this glass apparatus with water, then introduce a dye at the top. Heat one of the lower corners and watch as the dye follows the path of the convection current. Apparatus ...

Students watch with amazement as warm water rises and cold water sinks in this clever demonstration of density. The demonstration apparatus is a clear acrylic chamber that is divided down the middle with a removable wall. Hot, red water is placed on ...

Amaze your students by having liquid boil with the touch of your hand. You can even perform a fractional distillation (instructions included). There is no end to the fun and learning with the Hand Boiler.

Heat transfer by convection occurs continuously, but is usually only felt, seldom “seen.” Two innovative demonstrations in this kit allow you to create visible convection currents in both water and air. Dramatically show the effect of convection curr...

Students learn about the flow and transfer of heat energy with this hands-on laboratory activity. They fill one insulated container with hot water and the other with cold water; and link the two containers with an aluminum transfer bar-heat transfer ...

This “series” of four hands-on experiments and one demonstration will provide students with an in-depth understanding of heat, temperature, and heat energy transfer. Students begin by comparing the thermal conductivity of five different metals. They ...

Teach a variety of physical science concepts with the simplest steam engine. Add water to the flask, insert the rubber stopper with exhaust arms, and hang it securely. Then, use a Bunsen burner to heat the water and watch the engine spin! Illustrates...

Use this series of hands-on activity kits to teach students the principles and fundamentals of laboratory measurement. Students learn important measurement concepts relating to the metric system, accuracy and precision, and how to convert units of...

Decisively demonstrate heat conductivity in less than 30 seconds! Touch the identical-looking blocks. One feels cold to the touch, the other feels warm. Place an ice cube on each block and watch as one ice cube rapidly melts. Which block melts the ic...

Black clothes in the summer? White clothes in the winter? Does it really make any difference? This Leslie's cube is designed to investigate thermal radiation as a function of temperature and surface finish. This brass cube has sides finished black, w...

Determine the coefficient of expansion of four different metals. The dial indicator on this newly engineered linear expansion apparatus will provide more accurate and reproducible results and is more accurate than the old micrometer form. This qualit...

A new twist to an old classic! Demonstrate both linear and volume expansion and contraction with this simple device. At room temperature, the metal rod fits between the metal bracket and into the drilled-out holes. However, when the metal rod is heat...

Wire with a memory! Nitinol wire was discovered in 1961 and has “shape” memory. When placed in cold water it can be bent into any shape. Put into hot water, it springs back to its original shape. Shape memory alloys are discussed in the Chem Fax prov...

Dramatic demonstration with only the heat from your hand. Two glass bulbs are connected with a glass tube and contain a colored, volatile liquid. Holding one of the bulbs in your hand causes the liquid to boil causing vapor to move into the other bul...

Dark surfaces absorb radiation more than light ones. Here's an easy experiment to prove it. Just fill the two cans in this kit with room temperature water. Put thermometers in the holes in the tops and heat the cans equally with an infrared lamp. The...

Measure the radiation left by the warm surface of a human hand pressed on a wooden desktop! This radiometer is sensitive! It will measure the energy in a beam of radiation and is calibrated in Watts per meter. The detector is a thermopile consisting ...

The Stirling engine has been marveled at ever since its introduction in 1816. Once your students see this clever model engine in operation they'll be astonished as well! The principles involved are difficult to comprehend, so this very simple model i...

Heat up five different metal cylinders to exactly the same temperature, add each to a precise amount of water at known temperature, and observe the water temperature change. What variation! Why? Students perform a lab activity and calculate the speci...

Vividly demonstrate to your students the thermal energy content and potential skin burning hazards associated with steam. Steam is channeled through a copper coil heated by a Meker burner flame which raises the temperature of the steam well above 100...

Need a dramatic introduction for your energy conversion unit? Students are fascinated by a functioning steam engine! Trace all the energy conversions starting with lighting the match, to burning the dry fuel, to converting the water to steam, and fin...

Attach this functioning electric generator to a steam engine (AP5718) and amaze your students as you convert steam power to electrical power. The included drive belt is easily attached to the flywheel of the steam engine and starts generating power i...

Generate steam in a controlled and safe fashion. This steam generator will not break or rupture since there are no seams. The same aluminum alloy is used throughout to minimize the problem of galvanic corrosion. Use this gas-heated steam generator to...

This hands-on activity clearly illustrates how a thermostat works by demonstrating differential expansion. Students heat the bimetallic strip in the model and watch it bend to make contact, complete the circuit and light the lightbulb. After the stri...