What to build for high school project?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around potential projects for a high school physics assignment focused on particle accelerators. Participants explore various models and ideas for constructing a working demonstration, considering feasibility and available resources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in building a model of a particle accelerator using a ping pong ball, conductive paint, and copper tape, seeking instructions for construction.
  • Another participant shares a video link that showcases a model resembling a particle accelerator, suggesting that it uses standard neodymium magnetic balls.
  • A third participant introduces the Bernoulli Effect as a potential demonstration, although its relevance to particle acceleration is unclear.
  • One participant suggests using a 'gaussian gun' to accelerate metal balls through magnetic forces, linking it to the initial idea and providing a resource for further exploration.
  • A later reply describes a method involving a bowl with aluminum or copper tape strips and a conductive ping pong ball, proposing that applying high voltage creates an electric field for acceleration.
  • Another participant provides a link to a voltage multiplier, possibly as a resource for building the proposed model.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing ideas and models for the project, with no consensus on a single approach or solution. The discussion remains open-ended with various suggestions being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the technical details or practical steps required for constructing the proposed models, and assumptions about the feasibility of certain methods remain unexamined.

ratiugo
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I'm doing a high school physics project on particle accelerators. I know it's not realistic to build an actual particle accelerator, but I'd love to be able to build some model of something that works to go along with the powerpoint. I saw a video of someone using a ping pong ball with conductive paint and copper tape to accelerate the ping pong ball, and I wanted to do something of that sort but couldn't find instructions. If anyone knows of something I could build and has instructions that would be awesome.
 
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Here's a demonstration of the Bernoulli Effect:

 
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How about using 'gaussian gun', it is about metal balls accelerates due to the attractions of magnetic forces, maybe it is the same as Vodkacannon's idea.

http://www.miniscience.com/kits/Gauss_Rifle/ <- maybe this link can help you to get the idea.
 
This is the video I initially saw:

After some research, I believe it's basically a bowl with aluminum or copper tape strips, and a conductive ping pong ball. Applying a high voltage creates the electric field. Is there a simple way to build something like this without taking apart a TV monitor?
 
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