School of Physics Lecture Demonstration Manual

Mg-1 Guinea and Feather Apparatus

Published: Thursday 09 March 2006 - Updated: Wednesday 18 April 2007

Aim

To show that bodies of different mass accelerate equally under gravity.

Apparatus

Diagrams

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Guinea and Feather Pic
Guinea and Feather Diagram

Description

A glass tube approximately one metre in length containing a lead slug and a feather is attached to an evacuating pump. The accelerations of the objects in the tube under gravity can be observed before and after evacuation.

Two minutes evacuation is sufficient for a convincing demonstration.

Safety notes

Electrical safety

Sharps Safety

Maintenance

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