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Explaining Primary Science: A Guide to Theory and Practice
Student resources, ball and ring experiment.
This experiment is a volume expansion demonstration that shows that a ball is able to pass through a ring in a cold temperature but when the ball is heated using a Bunsen burner, the ball is unable to pass the ring. The equipment you will need for this experiment include:
- Beaker with water
- Bunsen burner
- Ball and ring apparatus
Method and observations:
- Hold the ball over the flame for a few seconds, rotating it, and then pass the ball through the ring
- Place the ball over the flame again for a few seconds, rotating it. You will see than now the ball can’t go through the ring
- Place the ball inside the beaker with water and now try to pass the ball through the ring. You will see that now the ball can pass through the ring
Demos: 3A-02 Expansion Ball & Ring
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Experiment Ha-07
Ball and ring.
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Ball and Ring
Colorado State University
College of natural sciences, department of physics, ball and ring.
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Visit the reservation page , main demo categories: 0 homepage (1) 1 mechanics (107) 2 fluid mechanics (35) 3 oscillations and waves (55) 4 thermodynamics (35) 5 electricity & magnetism (110) 6 optics (49) 7 modern physics (18) 9 equipment (59) in storage (31) new demos in the last year (1), this demo is part of the following categories: 4a30 solid expansion.
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4A30.21 Ball and Ring
Thermal expansion
When the ball is heated with a blowtorch, the ball expands so much it no longer fits through the ring.
- [1] Ball on a stick
- [1] Ring on a stick
- [1] Blowtorch
- [1] Lighter
- [1] Metal ball holder
Important Notes
- Be careful with fire and hot items. Perform the experiment away from flammable objects.
- Make sure you shut off the gas completely when turning off the blowtorch.
- Show that it is easy to put the ball through the ring.
- Light the blowtorch and heat the ball evenly, waving the flame over all parts of the ball.
- Turn off the blowtorch.
- Show that the ball no longer fits through the ring.
- Place the ball on the metal holder so that the hot ball doesn't damage anything.
Additional Resources
- PIRA 4A30.21
- Don't attempt this at home!
Last revised
- Putting the ring in dry ice also works, though it warms up rather quickly. If using dry ice, beware of its hazards, including frostbite, CO 2 poisoning, and embrittling of materials.
Related demos
If you have any questions about the demos or notes you would like to add to this page, contact Ricky Chu at ricky_chu AT sfu DOT ca.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
This experiment is a volume expansion demonstration that shows that a ball is able to pass through a ring in a cold temperature but when the ball is heated using a Bunsen burner, the ball is unable to pass the ring. The equipment you will need for this experiment include: Beaker with water; Bunsen burner; Ball and ring apparatus Method and ...
Take an iron ball and an iron ring such that the ball can just pass through the ring. Take a metal stand with a hook and a burner. Suspend the ball by a chain from the hook. Heat the ball and try to pass through the ring. Now cool it and try again. STEP 2: Observation: When the ball is heated it doesn't pass through the ring due to the thermal ...
Nov 30, 2023 · A metal ball and ring, each made of the same material, are made in such a way that at the same temperature, the inside diameter of the ring is just slightly larger than the diameter of the ball so that the ball will barely pass through. If the ball is heated, it will expand and not be able to be passed through the ring.
In experiments, the ball and ring experiment is a volume expansion demonstration experiment in which: (a) a cold (room temperature) brass ball is shown to be able to pass through tightly-fitted brass ring, (b) the ball is then heated with a flame, and (c) the experimenter then shows that the hot steel ball is unable to fit through the ring, as it previous was able to before, in the cold state ...
Aug 15, 2008 · Description: A ball and ring are constructed so that at room temperature the ball passes through the ring easily. The ball is then heated for about 10 seconds in the flame from the propane torch, and the ball can no longer pass through the ring. Video clips of this experiment are available: .avi (Windows) and .mov (Mac).
When the ring is heated, its diameter increases due to the expansion of the metal, allowing the ball to pass through easily. This experiment demonstrates the uniform expansion of solids when heated and is an example of the application of thermal expansion in engineering and manufacturing processes.
2. Experiments (15 minutes) a. Ball and Ring Experiment (7 minutes) Demonstrate the ball and ring apparatus to the class. Perform the experiment: Pass the ball through the ring at room temperature, then heat the ball and attempt to pass it through the ring again. Discuss observations and ask students to explain the results. b.
Demo Number: 074: Location: Shelf 10: Description: This demonstrates the properties of thermal expansion of metals. Related Demos: 092: Tips: Two sizes of rings: SMALLER will allow the ball to pass through when ONLY when the RING IS HOT, the Larger RING (blue tape on the handle) will only allow the ball to pass through when the BALL IS COOL, the brass ball or rings are heated to change the result.
[1] Metal ball holder; Important Notes. Be careful with fire and hot items. Perform the experiment away from flammable objects. Make sure you shut off the gas completely when turning off the blowtorch. Script. Show that it is easy to put the ball through the ring. Light the blowtorch and heat the ball evenly, waving the flame over all parts of ...
Ball Apparat s . The Experiment co;ntinued . Thus the "hole" has expanded to the same extent as the ball. (i) The ring and ball are both made of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), and they therefore have the same coefficient of expansion, that is they expand in volume by the same proportion for the same . increase in temperature. Thus, if ...