Little Gems
Column Editor: Christopher Chiaverina, Crystal Lake, IL
2024
Chlorophyll fluorescence: Visualizing the inner-filter effect by Yi Jinn Lillian Chen; Jiann-Shing Lih; Tzu-Chun Chen; Jeng-Fung Hung; Jing-Yuan Ko.
The Physics Teacher 62, 690–691 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0210074
The bat signal by Keith Zengel; Anna Klales
The Physics Teacher 62, 612–613 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0213457
Bicycle chains: How efficient are they? by John Waite.
The Physics Teacher 62, 534–535 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0202236
A simple method to estimate Q for a damped oscillation by Rod Cross
The Physics Teacher 62, 406 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0208143
Hollow, solid, and faster-rolling cylinders by Jerome C. Licini
The Physics Teacher 62, 312–313 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0202742
Light-wave communications using a two-cent solar cell by Christopher J. Chiaverina; Koichi Ishikawa; Norih Sugimoto
The Physics Teacher 62, 236 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0197677
Physics of holiday lights by Jennifer J. Birriel
The Physics Teacher 62, 152 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0195689
A new bubble-based demonstration of free-fall weightlessness by Ivana M. Krulj; Josip Slisko.
The Physics Teacher 62, 68–69 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0178556
2023
Sunset in a tube demonstration by Robert Hobbs
The Physics Teacher 61, 806–807 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0169913
A demonstration of the photoelectric effect with sunlight by Athanasios Gkourmpis
The Physics Teacher 61, 710–711 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0137631
Resistance measurements, DMMs, and LEDs, oh my! by Jennifer J. Birriel.
The Physics Teacher 61, 636 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0141867
Demonstration of the flow dynamics of the synthetic sneeze by M. Vadivukkarasan
The Physics Teacher 61, 538–539 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0136897
A low-cost device to demonstrate simple harmonic motion Video Abstracts
The Physics Teacher 61, 406 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0128982
Absence of buoyant force in free fall: A magnetic demonstration
The Physics Teacher 61, 312 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0106363
Infrared spectroscopy with the RSpec Explorer?
The Physics Teacher 61, 232 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0077960
Graphite-paper circuit elements: Resistor, capacitor, and π value estimation
The Physics Teacher 61, 154 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0077435
Birefringence without polarizers
The Physics Teacher 61, 86 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0130254
2022
Totally tubular The Physics Teacher 60, 620 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0014310
A bubble-based demonstration of free-fall weightlessness by Josip Slisko and Ricardo del Rosal Garduño The Physics Teacher 60, 527 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0013866
Simple demonstrations of refraction hide some deeper physics
The Physics Teacher 60, 310 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0010000
Demonstrating birefringence using a smartphone camera
The Physics Teacher 60, 232 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009696
Performing acoustics experiments using inexpensive Bluetooth speakers and smartphone signal generator applications
The Physics Teacher 60, 152 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0009430
2021
A small historical equipment display
The Physics Teacher 59, 732 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0055923
Demonstrating the beginnings of radio communications
The Physics Teacher 59, 664 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0006926
Glow sticks: Spectra and color mixing revisited
The Physics Teacher 59, 586 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0047149
Boiling water by doing work
The Physics Teacher 59, 508 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0049411
Gelatin optics revisited
The Physics Teacher 59, 380 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0004897
There goes the Sun: Sunset simulations old and new
The Physics Teacher 59, 74 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003026
2020
Demonstrating the physics involved in astronaut spacewalk training
The Physics Teacher 58, 680 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002745
The versatile constant velocity car
The Physics Teacher 58, 524 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002082
A new role for the Cartesian diver: Showing free-fall weightlessness
The Physics Teacher 58, 446 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001854
Let’s make “24:27:30:32: 36:40:45:48”and play music!
The Physics Teacher 58, 280 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5145482
Why is an empty shampoo bottle so easy to knock over?
The Physics Teacher 58, 220 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5145426
Digital imaging of infrared light: Digging deeper
The Physics Teacher 58, 138 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144803