Ball Bearing Model
Equipment: Approximately 4000 1/16 inch ball bearings between two lucite plates.
What it does: The ball bearings demonstrate single crystals, frustrated packing, grain boundaries, vacancies, vicinal surfaces and so on.
Concepts Demonstrated: Single crystals, frustrated packing, grain boundaries, vacancies, vicinal surfaces.
Classroom assembly:
To demonstrate a single crystal:
- Slowly move the balls to the 120 degree end.
To demonstrate frustrated packing:
- Move the balls to round end.
Note:
- The ball bearings can become electrostatically charged. If this happens, a few ball bearings will 'hover' near the surface.
- This demonstration works best when the model is nearly flat on the table/overhead. It does not work when it is held upright.
Cautions: None.
Setup Time: Short.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Visibility: High. This demonstration can be shown on the overhead projector and is appropriate for large lecture halls.
Related demonstrations:
References: PIRA 1R50.40
Original Construction: Made from two lucite plates and approximately 4000 1/16" ball bearings.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Jeff Rudd, 1999
Revised by Laura Schmidt, 2007