It’s Science
Conductivity – starting on the right with the girl holding the power source, through the copper rod, through the boy, through another copper rod, through the girl holding the light transferring the current, and the boy holding the lit light ring. Plus, the professor holding a light showing that electricity can also travel through the air. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
Last Wednesday, Metcalfe County Public Library held an event at Bowling Park gymnasium that was sure to get kids (and adults) excited about science with Mr. Bond’s Science Guys. After the show, the summer reading program came to a close.
Professor Greybeard began by demonstrating the use of sodium polyacrylate while playing the shell game using water in cups. The cups were held on the head of volunteers and the audience guessed which cup the water was in. The last cup (the water must be there) held a piece of the extremely absorbent sodium polyacrylate and all the water was gone. The Professor then explained how the material works (chemistry) and explained that NASA uses the same type of material in spacesuits.
Whose cup has the water in it? Photo by PJ Martin
The Professor used a hairdryer modified with a clear tube to increase the airflow (velocity) and levitate a ping pong ball in the air. He then used a modified leaf blower to levitate 2 beach balls. He then added a special tube attachment to load and shoot ping pong balls (physics) into the audience. He then explained the velocity and volume of air used in the experiment.
The volume of airflow levitating beach balls. Photo by PJ Martin
Using simple copper rods and a spherical electrode, the Professor explained open and closed circuits, electrons, and ions.
Using these demonstrations the kids learned about gravity, velocity, electrons, ions, internal combustion, open circuits, and acceleration.
After the show, the ladies from the library drew winners for summer reading prizes. They also had free books and other things for the kids. The winners are listed below.
Ages 0, 1, & 2
Radio Flyer Scoot-About = Olive Anduro; Little Tikes Waterpark Play Table = Eleanore Jones; Splish Splash Water Park = Olivia Fields; Duplo Lego Creative Animal Set = Remi Eckert; LeapFrog 2 in 1 Touch LeapTop = Winston Neal
Ages 3, 4, & 5
Magnatiles = Cherokee Eckert; Sprinkler Splash Pad with Hoop = Allie Plott; Dinosaur Outdoor Games = Critt London; Bluey Slimygoop Set & Kinetic Sand = Amelia Bragg; Crayola Mess Free Coloring Set = Caleb Trent
Ages 6, 7, & 8
Amazon© Fire 7 Kids Tablet = Charlotte Lopez; Inflatable Pool = Mary-Jo Ritter; Gravity Maze Marble Run & Kanoodle Puzzle = Adonijah Souder; Play Day 5 in 1 Sports Set = Olivia Cloyd
Ages 9, 10, & 11
Family Pool with Backrests = Josiah Franklin; VR Atlas Geography Set = Eliab Souder; Franklin 5 in 1 Outdoor Sports Set = Laurie Phelps; Art Supply 76 Piece Set = Aaliyah Shapiro
Teens (Ages 12-18)
Mini Cooler & Pizza Blanket = Caspian Conrad; CrateCraze© 48 Snack Variety Pack = Jesiah Baldwin; $25 Visa Gift Card = Roxanne Ritter
Dustin touches the electrode while Josh uses the static from his hand to lift the tins off Dustin’s hand without touching the tins. Photo by PJ Martin
These ladies were in the concession area with sack lunches for the kids. Photo by PJ Martin
