Best From Conceptual Physics Alive! DVD

The Best From Conceptual Physics DVD set, includes four hours of the best lectures taken from videotape series, Conceptual Physics Alive! These lectures, presented by master teacher Paul Hewitt, cover the key concepts presented in any physics course. Hewitt's unique conceptual teaching style and demonstrations bring new motivation, excitement and dimension to the physics classroom.

Below is a list of the different topics and demonstrations covered in Paul Hewitt's Best from Conceptual Physics Alive! DVD set.

Disc One

Definition of Speed: The formula speed = distance/time is explained and examples are given.

Velocity: Velocity is explained as having both speed and direction.

Average Speed: Average speed is explained as being (how far you go)/ (time covered).

Definition of Acceleration: Explanation of the formula for acceleration, acceleration = (change in velocity)/ (change in time). Acceleration is shown in a demonstration using a rolling cylinder.

Numerical Example of Acceleration: Examples of acceleration using a car going from 0 to 60 mi/h in 10s.

Changing Velocity: Three ways to change velocity are discussed.

Free Fall: How Fast?: As objects fall they pick up speed. This change in velocity, acceleration is g = 10²

V=gt: Velocity acquired = (10 m/s²)t.

Air Resistance & Falling Objects: All objects accelerate at the same rate when there is no air resistance.

Free Fall: How Far?: Derivation of the formula d= (1/2) at².

Falling Distance: Friends discover a mine shaft and determine its depth using physics.

Vector Representation: How to Add & Subtract Vectors: Parallel vectors are added and subtracted.

Geometric Addition of Vectors: How to add vectors that are at right angles.

Projectile Motion: Using components of vectors, it is shown that when neglecting friction, the horizontal component of projectile motion doesn't change.

Demo: Projectile Motion: Demonstration of two objects dropped simultaneously, one straight down, the other thrown horizontally.

Newton's Law of Inertia: Demonstrations of the law of inertia using a coat hanger and two balls of clay.

Demo: The Old Tablecloth Trick: Classic demonstration illustrates the law of inertia.

Demo: Inertia of Cylinder: Demonstration showing an object in motion tends to stay in motion.

Why You Don't Have to Hold the Toilet Paper Roll: Examples of inertia-getting bananas and tearing off toilet paper.

Demo: Weight-Mass Distinction: Demonstration of inertia. The author lies down with an anvil on his chest, and then the anvil is hit with a sledgehammer.

Definition of Newton: 1 kilogram weighs 9.8 Newton's on earth.

Force Causes Acceleration: Acceleration is caused by unbalanced force.

Newton's 2^nd Law: a = Flm = g

Free-Fall Acceleration Explained: F/M = f/m = g

Demo: Friction: Demonstration showing the force of friction at constant velocity.

Falling & Air Resistance: Examples of falling parachutist are used to show that heavier objects fall faster in air.

Pressure: The Bed of Nails: Demonstration of inertia and pressure. Paul Robinson lies sandwiched between beds of sharp nails while a cement block that rests on top of him is broken with a sledgehammer by Paul Hewitt.

Forces and Interaction: This explanation of action and reaction forces illustrates that you can't touch without being touched.

Demo: Action & Reaction on Different Masses: Demonstration shows that both people pull equally in a game of tug-of-war.

Action and Reaction on a Rifle & Bullet: An example showing that while the forces are equal, the masses and accelerations are not equal.

Definition of Momentum: Explanation of the formula mv using a truck and a roller skate.

Changing Momentum - Follow Through: Ft = Δmv

Decreasing Momentum Over a Short Time: Karate is used to demonstrate Δmv in a short time produces a large force.

Demo: Bowling Ball & Conservation of Energy: A pendulum demonstrates how energy changes from potential (PE) to kinetic (KE) back to potential (PE).

Conservation of Energy: Numerical Example: A circus example shows that PE + KE always adds up to the same value at all positions.

Machines: Pulleys: An example of a piano that is lifted with a small force.

Rotational Speed: Demonstration shows the difference between linear speed and angular speed.

Demo: Centripetal Force: Demonstration of a pail of water whirled in a vertical circle over the heads of the class without spilling.

Why a Ball Rolls Down a Hill: Demonstration shows the relationship between a ball's center of gravity and its support.

Simulated Gravity: Discussion of how space satellites could produce artificial gravity.

Locating the Center of Gravity: Demonstration shows that some objects have centers of gravity inside themselves while other objects have centers of gravity outside themselves.

Toppling: Examples are used to explain why some things fall over while others do not.

Demo: Difference Between Torque and Weight: Demonstration illustrates the difference between torque and weight. A broom is sawed in half, and a question is posed about the weights of the two halves.

Demo: Rotational Inertia Using Weighted Pipes: Demonstration shows the different rotational inertias of two equal-mass pipes.

Demo: Rotational Inertia Using a Hammer: Demonstration shows that the ease of tipping a hammer depends on its orientation.

Demo: Rotational Inertia with a Weighted Rod: This demonstration extends the previous demonstration (Side 2, Chapter 6), literally, using a pole and weight.

Demo: Conservation of Angular Momentum Using a Rotating Platform: Go for a spin with physics-demonstration of the conservation of angular momentum.

Inverse-Square Law: The concept of the inverse-square law is carried over to light, radioactivity, magnetism, and electricity. A diagram is used to conceptually show the "inverse-square law" of gravity.

von Jolly's Method of Measuring the Attraction Between Two Masses: Explanation of how von Jolly determined the numerical value of the universal gravitation constant.

Weight & Weightlessness: Many people believe the astronauts circling the earth are floating because they are beyond the reach of the earth's gravity. This explanation shows that this couldn't be further from the truth.

Apparent Weightlessness: A discussion of when it seems like there is no gravity-when falling objects fall at the same rate.

Discovery of Neptune: Perturbations in the orbit of Uranus lead to the prediction of Neptune and Pluto.

Gravitational Field Inside a Hollow Planet: Conceptually shows that there is no gravity field in the center of a hollowed-out planet.

The Weight of an Object Inside a Hollow Planet but Not at its Center: Conceptually shows that there is no gravity field off-center in a hollowed-out planet.

Circular Orbits: Satellite motion is explained using an imaginary huge bowling alley in the sky that circles the world.

The Twin Trip Animation: The award-winning 1974 animated film that illustrates the twin paradox.

Space & Time Travel: You don't have to be in a spaceship to experience time travel.

Disc Two

Evidence for Atoms: An explanation and model of Brownian motion.

Atoms Are Recyclable: You are made up of atoms that are from every person who has ever lived.

Surface Area vs. Volume: Demonstration shows that a spherical volume has the least surface area and answers the question of why stars and raindrops are round.

Scaling: Should you crush up ice to cool your drink faster? This explanation answers the question and provides more examples of using surface area to your advantage.

Dam Keeps Water in Place, Water keeps Dame in Place: Diagrams are used to show how water pressure can keep a dam in place.

Buoyancy: The buoyancy of an object is explained using vectors.

Demo: Flotation: Demonstration shows why wood floats, why clay sinks, and how to make clay float.

Demo: Archimedes' Principle: Demonstration shows the buoyant force acting on a submerged object is numerically equal to the weight of fluid displaced by that object.

Demo: Air Has Weight: The air in your refrigerator weighs more than a grapefruit.

Demo: Air is Matter: Pouring Air from One Glass to Another: To show that air is matter, it is poured from one glass into another.

Demo: Air Has Pressure: Several demonstrations prove that air has pressure.

Buoyancy of Air: Buoyancy in air as well as in water.

Demo: Low Temperatures with Liquid Nitrogen: The temperature of liquid nitrogen shrinks the volume of a balloon and turns a flower into one that is so brittle that it "breaks" when dropped.

Demo: Thermal Expansion: A tight-fitting ring that barely fits around a ball will have plenty of room when heated.

Demo: How a Thermostat Works: Demonstration showing how a bimetallic strip works.

The Secret to Walking on Hot Coals: Because wood is a poor heat conductor, people are able to walk barefoot on red-hot coals without harm.

Air is a Poor Conductor: Explanation of the insulation properties of down-filled sleeping bags, Styrofoam plastic foam, and thermal underwear in terms of air's poor heat conductivity.

Boiling is a Cooling Process: Liquids transforming to gases absorb energy.

Demo: Pressure Cooker and Boiling & Freezing at the Same Time: When pressure is reduced on a container of water, it boils until it freezes!

Condensation is a Warming Process: When water condenses on you, you feel warmer.

Demo: Adiabatic Process: Two demonstrations show that the expansion of gases is a cooling process.

Demo: Longitudinal vs. Transverse Waves: The difference between longitudinal and transverse waves is shown using a Springy spring toy.

Demo: Interference & Beats: Beats are demonstrated using two slightly different frequencies.

Doppler Effect: Comparing water waves with sound waves, the author explains why there is a frequency change as a source moves toward and away from an observer.

Demo: Resonance: Demonstration of a tuning fork set into motion when another tuning fork is struck.

Resonance & Bridges: Resonance explains a bridge collapse in Manchester, England, in 1831.

Tacoma Bridge Collapse: This historic footage shows the vibration and subsequent collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Light & Transparent Materials: Explanation of why light slows down in glass and speed up when it leaves.

Polarized Light & 3-D Viewing: Explanation of how polarized sunglasses cancel out the horizontal glare and how 3-D glasses work.

Demo: Colored Shadows: Using only red, green, and blue lamps, yellow and cyan are produced.

Demo: Why Water is Greenish Blue: Red light subtracted from white light produces blue-green light (cyan).

Yellow-Green Peak of Sunlight: A discussion of the sun's yellow-green peak in radiation.

Demo: Why the Sky is Blue and Why the Sunset is Red: Demonstration shows light scattering in the atmosphere.

Image Formation in a Mirror: An explanation using a ray diagram shows image formation and that the distance from the mirror to the image equals the distance from the mirror to the object.

Demo: Model of Refraction: Wheels on an axle rolling down an incline plane model the bending of light.

Refraction of Sound: The difference in speeds from different temperatures causes a bending of sound win warm air over a cool lake.

Soap Bubble Interference: An exhibit at the Exploratorium shows a thin, soapy film producing beautiful colors by interference.

The Rainbow: Explanation for the shape of a rainbow.

Demo: Van de Graaff Generator: Demonstration shows what happens to pie pans that are charged as they rest on the top of a van de Graaff generator.

Demo: Electric Potential: Current is proportional to voltage difference.

Caution on Handling Electrical Wires: Explanation of how electricity contracts muscles and causes a tightening grip around a "hot" wire.

Birds & High Voltage Wires: Explanation of why birds don't get electrocuted when they sit on high voltage wires.

Ohm's Law: Current = (voltage difference)/ (resistance)

Alternating Current: AC current is explained using a model of an imaginary washing machine.

Demo: Electric Circuits: Series and parallel circuits are shown using a car battery, wire, and light bulbs.

Demo: Oersdted's Discovery: Demonstration shows the connection between electricity and magnetism.

Demo: Magnetic Forces on Current-Carrying Wires: Demonstration shows the forces acting on current-carrying wires in a magnetic field.

Demo: Faradays' Law: A movement of wire in a magnetic field produces current which is proportional to the number of loops of wire used.

Application of E&M Induction: Explanation of how "smart lights" on highway ramp entrances detect if a car is present.

Electron Waves: Explanation of why electrons are at particular levels around a nucleus.

Radioactive Decay: Explanation of the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma emissions in radioactive decay.

Half-Life: Half-life is explained and examples are given of how this procedure is used in dating the earth.

Carbon Dating: Discussion of scientists using carbon dating.

Nuclear Fission: A recount of the history of the equation U-235 + 1 neutron produces Kr-91 + Ba-142 + 3 neutrons + energy. (This equation predicts a chain reaction.)

Plutonium: Explanation of how U-239 produces neptunium which produces plutonium, and a discussion of why we didn't have an appreciable amounts of plutonium in the environment before the 1950's.

Mass-Energy Equivalence: Using graphs, E=mc², an imagination, the author explains (mass/nucleon) vs. atomic number and that all nucleons don't have the same mass.

Nuclear Fusion: A discussion of the sun and nuclear fusion.

Controlling Nuclear Fusion: A speculative discussion about unlimited energy and our reactions to a changing world.