Our presentation at the National Stadium in Warsaw tied in with the theme of groundbreaking discoveries in physics. Our stand was located in the 'iconic experiments' zone. The keynote of our program was: 'Breakthroughs small and large, or else on going beyond the obvious'. The Fair organizers allotted us an exhibition tent on the crown of the National Stadium arena. Visitors came to watch our demonstrations in large numbers and the queues to enter the tent stretched long.
We attribute this popularity to the interactive nature of the experiments: one had to perform them to get a grasp of what they were about.
It is my observation that many visitors discovered that physics can be interesting. To have had TUL CMF physicists present during the Science Fair was a great way to promote physics and transform the perception of Lodz University of Technology by high school students, who had the opportunity to conduct, perhaps for the first time, experiments in physics in an informed and intentional manner. Additionally, the demonstrations prepared for the Fair are ready-to-be-used in classes at the high schools of which CMF has patronage.
Demonstrations
We regard our participation in the 26th Science Fair as quite successful. All the demonstration sets were professionally performed. The interactive displays, which were open to the public, encouraged visitors to experiment and draw their own conclusions based on the observations. Our facilitators helped perform the demonstrations properly and answered all the queries. Given the potential risks (heavy loads lifted by the block and tackle, lever hoist, and wheel and axle systems), the danger zones were fenced off, which allowed us to ensure that those watching the experiments did not venture into these areas. Based on my experience with audiences, it appears that it is parents who sometimes can be the root of problems as they are unable to imagine the consequences of their children, fascinated by the experiments, ignoring the warnings and getting too close to the moving loads. Fortunately, we took great care to ensure safety and avoid any unpleasant surprises, which could easily have happened with such large audiences. We received no negative feedback from the organizers as to the safety of our stands.
Simple machines, or else BREAKTHROUGHS in getting to know the limits of one's ability
In this experiment, the participants lifted a load using a block and tackle, lever hoist or a wheel and axle. In the process, they were able to observe that if they wanted to use little force, they had to significantly increase the path extend the distance. I think this is a very compelling insight into one of the basic laws of physics - the law of conservation of mechanical energy.
A human with a suitcase, or else BREAKING THROUGH the dogma of schematic intuition
The demonstration involved an experiment that had long been on our minds: a gyroscopic wheel spinning inside a suitcase producing surprising effects. If a suitcase is held by the handle by a person who is spinning, it deflects from the vertical. But when the person holding the suitcase flips it 180 degrees, the suitcase deflects from the vertical in the opposite direction than before. Trying to explain this observation by centrifugal force is futile.
Visitors to the Copernicus Science Center get the opportunity to do a similar experiment, but the suitcase used there is not transparent. is made of plexiglass so you could see the wheel spinning inside. Judging by the number of volunteers eager to grapple with our suitcase, we can consider the show a smashing success.
BREAKTHROUGH points in magnetic physics
A series of several experiments presented groundbreaking experiments: the interaction of a current conductor with a magnetic needle, the induction of current in coils caused by a moving magnet, emergence of eddy currents in a conductor. All the experiments were performed by the Fair attendees themselves. Also, each young experimentalist had the opportunity to build a simple homopolar motor with a neodymium magnet, a battery, and wires bent into a proper shape.
The physics of toys, or else BREAKTHROUGHS for little tikes
The youngest explorers actuated engaging toys whose operating principle relies on the conversion of mechanical energy.
Another highlight was a largescale operational model of a kaleidoscope. Kids could enjoy magical images generated by the rotating disc. Also popular were the kaleidoscopic photos of the youngsters' faces taken by their parents who stood on the other side of the open kaleidoscope.
The demonstrations were prepared and presented by dr. hab. inż. Adam Chudecki, TUL professor, dr inż. Krzysztof Wojciechowski, dr inż. Dariusz Cybulski, dr inż. Dariusz Krzyżański, dr inż. Mariusz Panak, dr inż. Piotr Słoma, dr inż. Janusz Tomaszewski, and by mgr inż. Janusz Kuliński, mgr inż. Krzysztof Mońko, and Jakub Kędzierski.