(Posted March 27, 2001)

Physics comes out of the pristine laboratories of Juniata College and onto the stage of Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center as students and faculty entertainingly demonstrate physics principles during Physics Phun Night at 7 p.m. April 5.

Physics Phun Night, sponsored by the Society of Physics Students (SPS) and the Physics Department, is free and open to the public. Glow sticks will be on sale for $2 each.

James Borgardt, assistant professor of physics and sponsor of the SPS club, says a Juniata science faculty member will lie on a bed of nails to demonstrate how force is distributed. As the instructor lies on the bed of nails, another faculty member will use a sledgehammer to break a cinder block as it lies on the demonstrator's chest.

Other demonstrations will include breaking a wine glass using sound waves, using a Van de Graaff generator to make participants' hair stand on end, burning bubbles, giant smoke rings and a diffuse dust explosion.

In addition, Physics Phun Night also will feature using air pressure and temperature principles to crush a 55-gallon oil drum.

"We want to provide a fun and exciting evening for the college and community, particularly the kids, to show them how much fun science can be," Borgardt says. "Our aim is for everyone to have a great time and perhaps even learn a little during the evening."

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.