ERIC Number: EJ1100712
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Apr
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
The Singing Cymbal: Is It Really Photon Momentum?
Collin, Samantha; Etchenique, Nikki; Moore, Thomas R.
Physics Teacher, v54 n4 p209-212 Apr 2016
A simple demonstration that is occasionally used in the classroom to show that light carries momentum involves making an orchestral cymbal audibly ring using light from a common photoflash. A metal plate or a piece of foil can also be used; however, it appears that many people use a cymbal because the sound is easily heard at a reasonable distance. It is such an impressive example of the effects attributable to photon momentum that it is posted on the CERN website for educational resources under the name "singing cymbal." Although it is an impressive demonstration, a series of simple classroom experiments can show that the sound of the singing cymbal is not due to the transfer of photon momentum.
Descriptors: Physics, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Light, Acoustics, Web Sites, Photography, Educational Resources, Science Experiments
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: PHY1303251