A bottle containing liquid nitrogen exploded in a trash can, causing an ear ringing boom and making the lid blast to the roof of the Youth Discovery Center at the Ohio State Fair. This wasn’t an accident or prank, but a science lesson put on by members of Sigma Pi Sigma, the Ohio State physics honor society.
Physics can be fun and the students are demonstrating to fair patrons just how exciting physics can be.
Both children and adults can experience hands-on experiments like lying on a bed of nails, generating electricity by pedaling a bicycle, using an infrared camera, watching sparks fly as a CD is cooked in a microwave oven and watching liquid nitrogen demonstrations.
“Some experiments are practical and some are just neat to watch and do,” said Justin Cantley, a junior at Haverford College in Philadelphia who is studying at OSU for the summer.
The experiments are fun for the patrons of the fair as well as the students who have volunteered their time.
“I love science and it’s my job as a scientist to not only make new science but, teach younger generations,” said Kyle Metzroth, a senior in physics. “I love seeing the smiles on their faces when they see something neat or when the light goes on in their head and they understand how something works.”
Sigma Pi Sigma’s goal is to get children excited about science and show them that learning can be interesting and fun.
“This is the awesomest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Sammy Woester a fourth grade student. “I wish we did this stuff in school.”
Sammy might get his wish if his school contacts the physics department’s PHOTON outreach. PHOTON stands for physics outreach to our neighbors.
“We are planning on going around Columbus to schools and different places if we get contacted,” said Metzroth.
During the past year the OSU physics department has done demonstrations in many different places.
“We’ve gone to Florida and Washington D.C.,” said Harold Whitt, a lecture demonstrator for the physics department. “We just went to Lima Science Day and to Hocking Hills at the Tar Holler State Park.”
The demonstrations vary depending on the audience.
“This here at the fair is geared towards little kids with a lot of hands on activities,” Whitt said. “But we’ve done big lectures and can change depending on who will be attending the event.”
No matter the audience, participants in the experiments can expect to do the same quality of experiments that are taught to OSU students in the class room.
“The same things you see here are what we use in the class room,” Whitt said.
