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Mad Scientists stun Wynberg pupils!
On Tuesday 23 October, five Grade Elevens attended the Phenomenal Physics exhibition
put on by the Science Department at UCT. None of us really knew what to expect when we arrived. We started off with a series of thought-provoking experiments about forces in action. This was
quite interesting for us, as we have just been learning about vectors and Newton’s Laws. In one experiment, the demonstrator lay down on a bed of nails and asked
if we could provide a scientific reason that he was not being hurt.
Next up we had an informative lecture on how sunspots are formed. We also learnt about stars, how they are formed and how they disappear.
One of the fascinating points about this, for me, is that before a star dies it grows bigger forming a red giant before exploding.
There was one scientist whom we thought was particularly mad. The aim of the experiment
he conducted was to demonstrate how static electricity is generated and transmitted using the Van De Graaf Generator. He turned off all the lights and as we sat in pitch darkness we could see little sparks of charge flying from the generator to his arm.
The same lecturer wanted to show us the wonderful properties of liquid Nitrogen. He certainly made his point when he put a glove on his right hand and proceeded to submerge his index finger in liquid Nitrogen. After a few seconds of rising steam, he withdrew his hand and smashed his finger with a hammer. There was an audible ‘gasp’ as
we thought that his finger would be shattered. Of course it was a clever trick, as he had previously stuffed this part of the glove with
playdough. To end of his impressive show, the mad scientist picked up a container of steaming liquid nitrogen and poured it over his head.
Once again a murmur sounded throughout the lecture theatre as the demonstrator shook the liquid nitrogen off himself.
For the grand finale, two lecturers aimed a water rocket at the stunned audience. Everyone ducked to avoid collision, but at
that moment the rocket was shot up an aisle in the lecture theatre. This was a very impressive way to end off a very interesting day
certainly we will never forget what we learnt. Special thanks must go to UCT for organising this spectacular demonstration of physics. We would also like Mr Bodenstein for organising
it for us and for taking us to and from the university.
Dani Alexander
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