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Date: | Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:38:49 -0700 |
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hi Cobie,
I have a habit of exposing my ignorance but I think you can achieve some
of what your after with a simple set up. Just to try, place a small
mirror (square foot mirror tile would work okay) outside and aim it so
it shines a little piece of sunlight into a somewhat dark room (sunlight
is so bright that the room doesn't really have to be very dark.) In the
beam of sunlight place a lit match or other heat source. In the shadow
on the wall you should very clearly see convection currents swirling off
the match.
I know the match trick works fine - it gives off enough heat to overcome
other convection currents in this very uncontrolled set up. In a more
controlled environment even the heat off your hand can work. I'm not
sure about the organ pipe, but in a more tightly controlled set up is
should work fine as well.
I think the sunlight basically takes care of most of your optics. That
light all ready arrives collimated, more or less. The set up you
describe sounds like it provides a much more controlled, lab-like,
environment, which frees you from sunlight and makes the whole thing
portable. I sure do like the simplicity of the sun, though.
Try the little demo with the sunlight and then look up Schlieren Optics
on the web.
I hope this helps. If you discover that I've got it all wrong, please
let me know.
All the best to you folks over there.
Joe R
www.TheExhibitGuys.com
Cobie Howard wrote:
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Hi,
>We are trying to build an exhibit that allows visitors to see a shadow of
>the airstream that flickers in and out of the mouth of an organ pipe. I
>have heard that this is possible using some arrangement of a strobe light,
>polarizing filters and collimating lenses. Does anybody have any tips or
>resources to help us do that?
>Thanks,
>Cobie Howard
>Exhibit Developer
>Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque
>505-224-8306
>
>
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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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