Search results for author:"Yaakov Kraftmakher"
Total records matched: 15 Search took: 0.100 secs
-
Principles of Radio: A Laboratory Experiment
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Education Vol. 37, No. 5 (September 2002) pp. 417–421
An experiment is proposed for learning the principles of radio. A simple radio receiver illustrates amplitude modulation and demodulation, the selectivity of a receiver and the features of a directional antenna. Both normal and computerized versions ...
-
Digital Storage Oscilloscopes in the Undergraduate Laboratory
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 33, No. 6 (November 2012) pp. 1565–1577
Digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) are now easily available to undergraduate laboratories. In many cases, a DSO can replace a data-acquisition system. Seven such experiments/demonstrations are considered: (i) families of "I-V" characteristics of...
-
Measurement of Small Optical Polarization Rotations
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 30, No. 2 (March 2009) pp. 271–276
When data with and without an optically active sample are acquired simultaneously while one manually rotates the analyser, the graph of the first signal versus the second one is an ellipse whose shape shows the phase shift between the two signals;...
-
Magnetic Field of a Dipole and the Dipole-Dipole Interaction
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 28, No. 3 (May 2007) pp. 409–414
With a data-acquisition system and sensors commercially available, it is easy to determine magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets and to study the dipole-dipole interaction for different separations and angular positions of the magnets. For...
-
Electron-Atom Collisions in Gases
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Education Vol. 48, No. 6 (November 2013) pp. 746–749
Electron-atom collisions in gases are an aspect of atomic physics. Three experiments in this field employing a thyratron are described: (i) the Ramsauer-Townsend effect, (ii) the excitation and ionization potentials of xenon and (iii) the ion...
-
Standing Sound Waves in Air with DataStudio
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Teacher Vol. 48, No. 2 (February 2010) pp. 122–123
Two experiments related to standing sound waves in air are adapted for using the ScienceWorkshop data-acquisition system with the DataStudio software from PASCO scientific. First, the standing waves are created by reflection from a plane reflector....
-
Determination of the Quantum Efficiency of a Light Detector
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 29, No. 4 (July 2008) pp. 681–687
The "quantum efficiency" (QE) is an important property of a light detector. This quantity can be determined in the undergraduate physics laboratory. The experimentally determined QE of a silicon photodiode appeared to be in reasonable agreement with ...
-
Dynamic Calorimetry for Students
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 28, No. 2 (March 2007) pp. 351–358
A student experiment on dynamic calorimetry is described. Dynamic calorimetry is a powerful technique for calorimetric studies, especially at high temperatures and pressures. A low-power incandescent lamp serves as the sample. The ScienceWorkshop...
-
Two Computer-Assisted Experiments
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Education Vol. 48, No. 5 (September 2013) pp. 636–639
Two computer-assisted experiments are described: (i) determination of the speed of ultrasound waves in water and (ii) measurement of the thermal expansion of an aluminum-based alloy. A new data-acquisition system developed by PASCO scientific is...
-
Telemetry with an Optical Fiber Revisited: An Alternative Strategy
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Teacher Vol. 52, No. 7 (October 2014) pp. 431–433
With a new data-acquisition system developed by PASCO scientific, an experiment on telemetry with an optical fiber can be made easier and more accurate. For this aim, an alternative strategy of the remote temperature measurements is proposed: the...
-
Demonstration of Lenz's Law with an Induction Motor
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Education Vol. 40, No. 3 (May 2005) pp. 281–284
The interaction of a conductor with a time-dependent magnetic field is an important topic of electromagnetic theory. A computerized classroom demonstration shows how the eddy currents induced in the rotor of an induction motor cause its rotation or...
-
Computer-Assisted Experiments with a Laser Diode
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 32, No. 3 (May 2011) pp. 793–802
A laser diode from an inexpensive laser pen (laser pointer) is used in simple experiments. The radiant output power and efficiency of the laser are measured, and polarization of the light beam is shown. The "h/e" ratio is available from the...
-
Experiments with a DC Motor
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 31, No. 4 (July 2010) pp. 863–870
Experiments with an electric motor provide good opportunity to demonstrate some basic laws of electricity and magnetism. The aim of the experiments with a low-power dc motor is to show how the motor approaches its steady rotation and how its torque, ...
-
Experiments on Photoconductivity
Yaakov Kraftmakher
European Journal of Physics Vol. 33, No. 3 (May 2012) pp. 503–511
Computer-assisted experiments with CdS and CdSe photoresistors are described. The most important characteristics of the photoresistors are determined: (i) the spectral response, (ii) the photocurrent versus incident radiant power, (iii) the rise and ...
-
Two Demonstrations with a New Data-Acquisition System
Yaakov Kraftmakher
Physics Teacher Vol. 52, No. 3 (March 2014) pp. 164–166
Nowadays, the use of data-acquisition systems in undergraduate laboratories is routine. Many computer-assisted experiments became possible with the PASCO scientific data-acquisition system based on the 750 Interface and DataStudio software. A new...