Mousetrap Chain Reaction



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 Code Number :   7D20.10  

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

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Condition :   Excellent   
Principle :   Nuclear Fission  
Area of Study :  Modern Physics  
Equipment :   Mousetraps, about 75, Rubber Stoppers, Large Lucite Box, Camera and Power Supply.
 
Procedure :   Place the bottom of the Lucite box on a table, set the mousetraps and set them in rows on this bottom. Very carefully place the rubber stoppers on the mousetraps so that they have enough stability to be gently moved into the lecture room. Using one stopper as a trigger, drop it in the hole on the top of the Lucite box and observe the reaction. Preparation time is at least 30 minutes. This Demo has been video taped several times so that after you have done the reaction you can play the video in slow motion and see how the reaction evolves. The tape is in the video cabinet labeled 'Atomic Bomb - Mousetrap Exp.'.  
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   References

"Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 35, # 9, Dec. 1997, p. 539. 

"Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 35, # 8, Nov. 1997, p. 502. 

Albert A. Bartlett, "Et Cetera - Natural Fission Reactor" TPT, Vol. 35, # 8, Nov. 1997, p. 505,  Originally published by - I. J. Kaiser, "Natural Fission Reactor,"  Science, 276, 1019, (May 16, 1997), 

Andrew DePino, Jr., "A Pile of Legos", TPT, Vol. 32, # 5, May 1994, p. 300.

Robert Marzewski,  "Chain Reaction Model,"  TPT, Vol. 26, # 8, p. 514, (November 1988)

 

MPa-1:  Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

 

S-260:  "Marbles in Saucer,"  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

S-265:  "Mouse Traps & Silicone Balls,"  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille