Alien Invasion...
This Saturday just gone, I spent the day at the Norman Lockyer Observatory near Sidmouth helping out at the South West Astronomy Festival. Barring some rain in the morning, it was a glorious sunny day on the south coast and there was a brilliant turn out of star gazers, amateur radio enthusiasts and interested locals with their kids. My job was to help run a “Physics is Fun” stall, with loads of hands on experiments and crafts for the kids, big and small, to get involved with. We made solar system bracelets, demonstrated tricks with water and launched paper rockets with some copper tubing and a foot pump. My personal favourite, however, was the spinning UFOs. Essentially, this is two polystyrene cups taped together, back to back, which are launched in the air by wrapping a couple of rubber bands around them then firing them like a catapult.

There’s a bit of a knack to it, and, after a couple of hours of the kids laughing at me for being pretty inept, I got the hang of it and started to get rather proficient. Now, if you get the angle and the spin right and put a bit of extra back spin on with your finger when you launch them, you can get these things to fly pretty high and do some impressive loops. I’d been demonstrating this to a small crowd and explaining the concepts of lift and momentum when I decided to launch another.

Somehow, I got it just right. With a bit of judicious help from a passing breeze, the cups looped into the air, climbed to about 20 feet and spun over the observatory, where they hung for what seemed like eons (but was more like 30 seconds). They then gently looped back and floated down into my waiting hands where I (astoundingly) caught them. I turned to see that a group of about 15 people were standing, open mouthed at what they had just seen. One of the parents turned to me and said “That. Was. Amazing...” Her child, no more than six years old, tugged at her sleeve, saying “Mummy, can I stay here and play with the Physics lady? Then can we go and see some more telescopes please?”

I don’t think I’ve ever been so pleased in my life. Here’s a child who wants to spend their Saturday engaging with science and was actually begging to visit a telescope.

Why do we need to make up magical explanations for the world around us, when the simplicity of showing children a toy that they can make in their back garden is so much more satisfying and is a way in to catching a kid’s imagination? If this weekend showed me anything it’s that we shouldn’t lie to kids about how things work as generally, they’re totally switched on and seem to get it that finding out the truth about stuff is pretty awesome.

As an aside, I’m thinking of developing the cups by calling them “Inuit Puffin Cups”, decorating them with glitter and taking them to Glastonbury next year and selling them to confused unicorn worshippers for five quid a go.
(Rakky (forgot her password) The muffin maverick, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 9:26, 11 replies)

I like this

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 10:24, closed)

I like this LOTS

(Bernardate, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 10:28, closed)

Cooool :)
*clicks*
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 10:37, closed)

How to make?
How can WE make these magic flying saucers and get into science?
(stubbledchin, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 10:53, closed)

Here's how to make them...
Marvin and Milo

Plus loads of other fun experiments...
(Rakky (forgot her password) The muffin maverick, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 11:04, closed)

Ha ha!
I like the way you've stolen the idea from Physics World. Nice one!

I sometimes try the Marvin and Milo things too, just for fun. I know it's meant for kids, but I have to just check that the experiments work ok...
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 13:04, closed)

So there is life in Sidmouth ...
... after the folk festival (which I was, I must admit, avoiding).

I was also unaware of the NLO - must visit when the sprogs are old enough to appreciate it (will make a change from trains, beaches, trains, adventure playgrounds and trains).

Oh, and *click*.
(Neil_E_There didn't the Aussies used to be good at cricket?, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 11:32, closed)

I like it too
Have a well-earned click.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 9 Aug 2010, 11:40, closed)

Awesome.
Especially the last paragraphs. "The world doesn't need mystical bullshit, but, since it exists, I'm going to go and make money off the twerps that believe in it." Idealism and pragmatism in one handy package. I click thee.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 12:26, closed)

Nice story
.
( browser still relating boring anecdotes into a void on, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 12:35, closed)

Cool
The Magnus Effect in action! Must pick up some polystyrene cups on our next shopping trip. Then I'll see how many we can land in out neighbour's swimming pool.
( SteamedCleaner, Mon 9 Aug 2010, 14:30, closed)

Would a Glaso B3TAN ...
... get a discount?
(GooGoo, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 13:24, closed)