Opening (Peter, Sprott, &
Melissa):
(ON B) - RGB {T2
G1}: Intro PPT Slide Shows
Audio:
Science Songs
(ON A&C) - Cameras 5 & 6:
{Crowd Shots on A & C }
{Mute all as Peter walks out}
Peter: Welcome to the (237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242,
243, 244, 245, 246) presentation of The Wonders of Physics... Before the show begins, I would like to
assure you that we make all of our demonstrations as safe as possible provided
you remain in your seats.
Prof. Sprott
has just returned from Northern Wisconsin where he was
using his knowledge of physics to help the farmers improve their milk
production, and he didn’t have time to change into his usual formal attire.
However, the show must go on, and so please give a welcome to that physicist of
farming, that analyst of agronomy, that Houdini of horticulture, that Wizard of
Wisconsin, Professor Clint Sprott....
Q-B – Lectern Computer 1
{2012WOP-Slides.ppt}: “Wisc Page”
Audio: WondersTheme-Short
{Sprott
enters stage left in farm clothes with manure boots, a straw hat, and a
pitchfork.}
(B ON) - RGB: {PPT SLIDE - The Wisconsin Idea Page}
Q-A - Cameras 6: {Fire
Tornado on A }
Sprott: Welcome to The
Wonders of Physics. This is the year of the Wisconsin Idea
at the University of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Idea is that “the boundaries of the University are the boundaries
of the State," or more generally that the research we do at the University
should benefit society. And so I thought we should show you some of the many
ways that physics has influenced your lives.
Q-A
– Lectern Computer 1 {2012WOP-Slides.ppt}:
“Lightning” {Maybe
a movie collage of lightning}
Sprott: An example is the weather. Accurate weather
prediction would not be possible without computer models that rely on
principles of physics. We can even warn when and where a
tornado is likely to occur. Would you like to see me make a tornado?
For this I will need a volunteer...
{Melissa (Breeden) from Chicago
is planted in
the audience and comes down to help demonstrate the fire tornado.}
(ON A) - Cameras 6: {Fire
Tornado on A }
Demo: {Fire Tornado}
Audio: Marry go Round
Audio: Ta-Da
{Just
as the flame extinguishes, there is a loud noise and the lights go out.}
******************************
{FLASHY AND FAST --- LIGHTS OFF -- NOISE & GRAPHICS}
** All Lights OFF **
(A ON) - RGB: {PPT SLIDE Lightning}
DVD: Twister
**
All Lights ON **
{The
lights come on a few seconds later. Sprott is
gone}
{Melissa
is sprawled on the floor near the Geyser or Mousetraps. She gets up in a daze
and looks around.}
******************************
Melissa: I
don’t think I’m in Chicago anymore.
Excuse me. Where am I?
Peter:
Why, your in the marvelous land of physics of
course!
Melissa: The
land of physics? How will I ever get back to Chicago?
Peter: Well, I have an idea of how we can get you
back to Chicago. We can use
balloons. Here I have two balloons............
Demo:
{Helium & Hydrogen Balloons }
Audio:
Ta-Da
..........{after
hydrogen balloon explodes}...
Ok, so maybe we won’t use hydrogen
balloons to get you back home.
??
Video: {Hindenburg Crash
} ??
The person who can help you get
back home is The Wonderful Wizard of Wisc. He’s a big Green Bay Packers fan and a real cheesehead. If you
follow the Yellow Cheese Road,
that will lead you to the City of Green
and Gold, where he can help you return home.
But you must learn some physics along the way. And so off you go...
Melissa:
Okay, wish me luck! I’ll need it..
Audio:
YellowBrickRd
{Melissa
exits stage left (with cheesehead? and music).}
Transportation (Mike Randall):
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - of Wisconsin First’s } (Create
slide)
Peter
(narrating): There have been many
advances in transportation. Many of which have come from Wisconsin, including the
first city-to-city auto race in the U.S., the first four wheel drive
auto, the first outboard engine, and the first snowmobile.
{Melissa
enters stage right.}
Audio: YellowBrickRd-2 ?if i can time it!
Melissa:
I’m exhausted! I’ve been walking for hours. I think I turned my ankle when my heel got
caught in the Swiss. (pause)
There’s GOT to be an easier way to
get to the City of Green and Gold!
{Mike
enters rear stage right, singing}
Mike R.: ‘fi...’fi....were KIIIIIING....just KIIIIIIIING!
{Melissa
spots Mike, and goes over to talk with him.}
Melissa:
Excuse me....
{Mike jumps back in surprise}
Mike R.: AAAAAGGGHHH!
Oh my gosh....
You scared the DAYLIGHTS out of me!
Melissa:
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.
Mike R.: That’s OK.
It’s not your fault. We
physicists sometimes get lost in our thoughts.
My name is Mike Randall. Who are
you?
Melissa:
My name is Melissa, and I’m trying
to get to the City of Green and
Gold. You know, that nice man I met a
while back said something about “physics”.
How can physics help me get home?
I don’t even know what it is!
Mike R.: Physics is part of everyday life. It’s the study of how things move, how they
push and pull on each other, and how they exchange energy.
Melissa:
(frustrated) But how
can that help me get home?!
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - Newton }
Mike R.: Well, to get something moving, you have to
push or pull on it. My favorite dead
guy, Sir Isaac Newton, came up with three laws of motion. called that push or
pull a FORCE. If you want to move in a
particular direction, you need to increase the force in that direction, and
decrease forces in other directions.
Melissa:
Forces in other directions? Like what?
Mike R.: Like FRICTION! Friction is the force that opposes movement,
by turning the energy of movement – or KINETIC ENERGY – into HEAT ENERGY. I’ll show you: put your hands together. Now rub them like this.
{Mike
R. encourages audience to rub their hands together.}
Demo:
{Audience Hand Rubbing}
Mike R.: What do you notice?
Melissa:
My hands are getting warmer!
Mike R.: Right!
Throughout history, people have been looking for ways to reduce
friction. I need two helpers.
{Mike
R. selects two kids from the audience, and has them sit down on a board.
Demo: {Board W/O Rollers}
Audio: {Oh Dear!} or something?
Mike R.: Let’s pretend these kids represent two large
cheese wheels. Sir Isaac Can you move
them?
Melissa:
What’s with you Wisconsin
people and cheese?
Mike R.: Are you having any luck moving them?
Melissa:
No!
What do you feed these Wisconsin kids – bowling
balls?
Mike R.: Uhh…cheese,
actually. {Audio:
Rim Shot} ? Anyway, the reason you couldn’t
move them is the friction between the floor and the board is too great. In ancient times, people solved this with
rollers.
Demo:
{Board W/Rollers}
{Mike
R. produces a bag filled with sections of PVC pipe. He has the kids stand up, line up a series of
the rollers next to the board, sets the board on the rollers, then sits the
kids back down on the board.}
Audio: Ta-Da
Mike R.: Give it another try, Melissa.
Melissa:
(grumbling) Okay…
{Melissa
picks up rope handle and pulls. The
board with the kids rolls easily. Mike.
R. has the kids help put the rollers back in the bag,
thanks the kids and sends them back into the audience.}
Melissa:
Wow!
That was amazing! I didn’t have
to pull very hard at all!
Mike R.: That’s right!
The rollers greatly reduced the friction force, meaning you didn’t have
to use as much pulling force.
Q-B – Lectern Computer 1
{2012WOP-Slides.ppt}: “Trans & forms of energy”
Melissa:
So, all I need to do to get to the
City of Green and Gold is get a
board and some rollers and…
Mike R.: Hold on!
Rollers are a bit old-fashioned.
There are LOTS of other ways you can reduce friction. You could ride a bike, use roller skates,
paddle a boat, maybe ski or ice skate if it’s cold enough…
Melissa: Wait a minute!
I’m tired, and all those things sound like hard work!
(B ON) - RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Tranportation and forms of energy ??? }
Mike R.: Well, who said that the forces used in
transportation had to come from YOU? Throughout
history, people have been using other forms of energy to move them
around. Horses can pull carts. Wind can push the sails on boats. Heat energy, released from burning wood or
coal, can boil water, generate steam, and power
trains, ships – all kinds of things! Do
you know how a car engine works?
Melissa:
Uhhh….
Mike R.: Let me demonstrate.
Demo:
{Small Ethanol Bottle w/Tesla Coil}
Audio: Ta-Da
?
?Mike R.: MORE
DIALOGUE TO WRITE
? [Mike can you clean this area up]
Melissa:
That’s AMAZING! This hovercraft and rocket will get me to the
Green and Gold City
in no time!
{*** HEAT UP THE GEYSER
****} start time may need adjusting..
Mike R.: Uhh…I’m not sure…
Melissa:
Thanks for your help. Bye!
{Melissa flies hovercraft off stage left. A loud crash is
heard. }
Demo:
{Hovercraft}
Audio: YellowBrickRoad Audio: Crash Audio: Ta-Da
{MAKE SOUND}
Mike R.:
Well, I guess physics isn’t a substitute for driving lessons.
{Mike R. exits
stage right.}
Audio: Ta-Da-Proud
Camera #1 or
#2: “On
the top of the Geyser”
Environment (Marty Lichtman):
[to Marty, here are some other demo ideas.
●
Heat transfer (in sand maybe or with mirrors and match)
●
Heat convection and/or conduction
●
Radioactive with Geiger counter and sources
●
Speed of Sound demo that’s out there
I’ll add more when
they come to me.]
Peter (narrating)
There have been many pioneering environmental ideas
from Wisconsin.
[to Steve: add to slide show]
RGB: {http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/UW/data/images/MmBib/LimnImg/large/uwlimn0070l.jpg}
Peter (narrating)
For example, right here at UW we had the first ever Department of Limnology,
the study of freshwater lakes. Our state’s Department of Natural Resources is
one of the best in the nation at keeping the environment healthy for hunting,
recreation, and commercial use. Here to
explain some aspects of physics in the environment is Marty “the Scarecrow” Lichtman.
{Marty is
dressed as a scarecrow in a labcoat.}
Marty:
Our environment consists of the elements and life that surround us, and
also the flow of energy through that system.
Within the Earth itself there are many radioactive elements, such as
uranium, whose decay releases heat.
Demo: {Radioactive samples and Geiger Counter}
Audio: Ta-Da
Marty:
The heat from radioactive decay maintains a layer of molten rock, called magma,
underneath the Earth’s crust. But
sometimes we see that heat at the surface.
One way is in the explosion of a geyser.
I happen to have a model of a geyser here.
Demo: {Model
Geyser}
Marty:
A geyser forms when magma heats water from below. If the plumbing for the water is narrow and
constricted, then the hot water is trapped below the cooler water. The water at the bottom
heat and heats and heats. Under
pressure it can reach far above the normal boiling point of water. We call it superheated. But eventually it boils into steam. As some of it becomes steam and begins to
rise, it release the pressure on the water, and it all
goes at once. This explosion forces the
water out the top of the plumbing, making a geyser!
Marty: We’re going to heat up this water in this
tube and simulate a geyser! We’ll hear
more from this later.
Marty: Another source of heat, far larger and more
powerful than the Earth’s core, is the sun.
The sun’s radiation heats the Earth’s surface during the day. Then the during the
night, the dark side of the Earth releases that energy. This cycle repeats again and again, hopefully
returning to its same state. But this
cycle can be disrupted by something we call the greenhouse effect.
Marty: We can simulate the greenhouse effect by
taking two identical aquariums. We’ll
put in two items that are prone to melting.
The first is a metal called gallium which melts just above room temperature,
and the second is a slice of Velveeta cheese. Let me turn on these incandescent lamps to
simulate the sun.
Audio: Mouse Squeaking
Marty:
Oh, I forgot to plug them in. If I only
had a brain! {possible sound file Brain}
Demo: {Greenhouse Effect Aquariums}
{using sulfur hexafluoride in a 10 gallon aquarium with
Gallium}
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Gallium Facts} Make Slide
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - SF6 Facts} Make Slide
Camera XX: “On Cheese
and Gallium”
Marty:
The piece of metal just melted!
Not as hot as magma though: Gallium has a melting point of only 30
degrees Celcius, which is above room temperture, but less than human body temperture. How come one melted first? What’s the
difference?
Marty: Well, I have a secret,
I’ve filled one aquarium with a heavy gas called sulfur hexafluoride, or
SF6. It’s five times as dense as air so
the SF6 sinks and stays in the aquarium.
Marty: The SF6 absorbs infra-red radiation,
that’s electromagnetic radiation of slightly longer wavelength than visible
light. So you’d think it would actually
keep the cheese cooler. But the visible
light still gets in, it gets absorbed by the cheese
and the bottom. Then the cheese re-emits
light. We can’t see it, because it
re-emits it in the infra-red. But since
the SF6 reflects infra-red, that energy can’t get out. Visible light keeps entering and adding
energy to the cheese, and then that energy can’t leave. Just like how glass on a greenhouse keeps
heat in.
Marty: The cheese is emitting light? Sure it is.
Infra-red radiation is part of the same electromagnetic spectrum as
visible light. It’s
wavelength is just slightly too long for our eyes to detect.
Demo: {Carbon
Arc-lamp Blackbody and Prism}
Audio: Ta-Da
{Melissa
enters.}
Melissa:
I smell something cooking.
Marty:
The air-filled aquarium is still relatively cool. But the aquarium filled with the SF6
greenhouse gas has gotten hot enough to melt the cheese! The
result? Yum!
Melissa:I
think I’m starting to understand why you guys love cheese so much..
{Marty eats cheese}
Audio: Eew
Marty:
Look, we can make a paper boat and float it on top because the air inside the
boat is lighter than the SF6 that it displaces.
{Buoyancy}
Demo: {Floating a Balloon or Boat on SF6}
Marty:
And what if I dip my head in and take a breath?
Demo: {Breathing SF6}
Audio: Ta-Da
Marty:
“Let the beat drop!”
Marty:
The velocity of sound in the SF6 is 44% of that in air. The speed of sound in SF6 is slower, causing
my nasal cavity to resonate at lower frequencies. It’s the exact opposite of what happens
when you breath helium!
{Melissa breathes helium.}
Demo: {Breathing
He}
Melissa:
Can you tell me how to get to the Wizard of Wisc?
Marty:
Wow, and your voice sounded higher because the speed of sound in helium is 3
times higher than in air, creating shorter wavelength resonances in your nasal
cavity. You know, we can easily see the
speed of sound.
Demo: {Speed of Sound w/scope}
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: So,
how will this help me find the Wizard of Wisc?
Marty: SF6 is fun to play with, but it isn’t the
only greenhouse gas. Much more common
are chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and especially carbon dioxide. It’s because of the carbon dioxide that we’re
all trying to reduce our carbon footprints.
The Wizard of Wisc likes to ride his bicycle
(PPT slide) to reduce his carbon
footprint. Here, take his rocket powered tricycle powered by two carbon dioxide
fire extinguishers, and maybe you can catch him.
Melissa: Do I need a permit for this? Oh well!
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Sprott on Bike}
Demo: {CO2
Rocket Tricycle}
{Melissa rides
out stage left on the rocketcycle, and Marty exits stage right.}
Audio: YellowBrickRoad & TaDaProud [Remix]
Energy (Kenny Rudinger):
Peter: {introduces Kenny who explains and demonstrates how
physics has influenced energy production.}
Melissa: Hello sir, I’m trying to learn
physics so I can find my way to the Wizard of Wisc.
What are all those light bulbs for?
Kenny:
Well, I have some light bulbs here that I want to turn on. Normally, we turn a light bulb on just by
throwing a switch, which allows electricity to flow through the bulb. That electricity has to come from somewhere,
though, and usually it comes from a power plant, which can be many miles away.
However, that electricity
doesn’t have to be generated at a power plant.
We can make it ourselves! Let’s
take a look at this bicycle.
Now, a bicycle is
a clever machine that uses the power you generate with your legs to make the
bicycle wheels rotate, making you and the bicycle move. However, we’ve taken this bicycle and
modified it.
Who likes to ride
bikes? Who would like to help me with
this bike?
{Audience member
is selected; they are instructed to start pedalling}
And your name is?
Demo: {Exercise
Bike w/incandescent}
Kenny:
Instead of powering yourself down the road, you’re powering the
lights! In this bike is a device called
a hub dynamo, which is a kind of electric generator. It coverts the mechanical energy of your legs
pedalling into electrical power, so electricity flows
through the incandescent light bulb, making it glow.
Audio: Ta-Da
Kenny:
This is all a lot of work, huh? However,
I bet we can get a lot more light without having to
work any harder.
{Kenny switches
bike to LED mode)
Demo: {Exercise Bike w/LED}
{Audience member Leaves - Thank you!}
Audio: Ta-Da-Proud
Kenny: What’s happened? The light is so much brighter, even though we
don’t have to work any harder! Instead
of using an old incandescent bulb, we’ve switched to an LED, or light-emitting
diode. When we used the incandescent
bulb, only a very small amount of the electrical energy went to lighting up the
bulb; most of the energy was lost to heating up the bulb.
Kenny: Now, LEDs
are much more efficient at converting electrical energy into light. That’s why they’re so much brighter, but we
don’t have to work any harder. It’s the
same reason people today are switching from incandescent bulbs to compact
fluorescent bulbs; the fluorescent lights are more efficient than the
incandescent bulbs, so using them saves energy and money!
Melissa:
What are all these mouse traps and ping pong balls for?
Kenny:
That’s a great question! There
are many different ways to generate power.
We just saw one way with our bicycle.
This device is going to demonstrate another way we can generate
power. We call this box a mouse trap
chain reactor. This is called one and
this device will demonstrate and one of them is called nuclear fission;
this device is going to model that for us.
Before I can explain how this device works, I need to tell you about
atoms and fission.
An atom is a very
tiny building blocks that make up all the matter that
we see. Each atom is made up of
particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. {Atomic graphic}
We see that the center,
or nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons, while the
electrons surround the nucleus.
If a neutron hits
an atom, it can cause it to split apart, releasing energy. In a chain reaction, a very large number of
atoms split, or undergo what’s called nuclear fission. This is the principle behind nuclear
reactors, which we use as power plants. {Nuclear power
plant graphic}
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Nuclear Power
Graphic} ??
Melissa: Nuclear fission..
is that what makes soda fizzy too?
Kenny: Not exactly. We’re going to model
such a chain reaction with this mousetrap chain reactor. Each mousetrap in this box represents an
atom. Each mousetrap is set with a ping
pong ball, which represents a neutron.
When a trap goes off, that represents an atom undergoing nuclear fission
in which a neutron, or ping pong ball, are ejected. Each ping pong ball will fly off and hit another
trap, setting it off. This represents
neutrons hitting other atoms and causing them to split as well. We’re going to set off the chain reaction
with just a single ping pong ball, and we’ll be able to see all the energy that
we can release. Now, it’s going to
happen pretty quickly, so watch closely.
Demo: {Mouse Trap Chain Reactor}
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: Wow!
Kenny:
Let’s see that again!
DVD: Slow Motion Capture of Reactor
{At some point,
Melissa enters stage right and interacts with Kenny.}
Kenny:
Another type of nuclear energy under development here at the University of Wisconsin is controlled
nuclear fusion. The Wizard of Wisc used to work on
it. Look for a very large aluminum doughnut (slide), called the Madison Symmetric Torus, and he will probably be somewhere nearby.
Melissa: I’ll keep an eye out for that, how hard can it be to
find, right? Thank you!
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - MST}
{Melissa exits
stage left, and Kenny exits stage right.}
Audio: Ta-Da - Exit mix
Communications (Michael Winokur
& Paul Nonn):
{Peter introduces
Michael who explains and demonstrates how physics has influenced
communications. A montage of these people and their inventions will be seen
simultaneously on the projector.}
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - more Wisc First’s} {Next 4 Slides}
{Peter taps the
microphone with his finger. }
Peter: So, “Can you hear me now?”... good, then I can mention a few of Wisconsin’s contributions
to communications. Do you read? Can you
write? Wisconsin had the nation’s first kindergarten. A Wisconsin
inventor developed the first practical
typewriter and QWERTY layout; which is still used today. Do you have a cell phone; a computer? Wisconsin natives created the first solid-state transistor,
the first true supercomputer
and also Mosaic, the world’s first web browser.
Well enough of
firsts, I think Professor Winokur may be able to
“communicate” something more about the role physics plays in communication.
Give a warm
welcome to Professor Winokur.....(a
pause)....Professor Winokur?
{Michael pushes
Paul Nonn (alias the Tin Man) on a cart along the
yellow cheese road under the Telsa Coil). The main result of the
Tesla Coil is the production of light, electricity and sound all
important elements in communication technology. }
Michael:
Sorry Pete, the Wizard of Wisc’s new robo graduate student doesn’t seem to be working. We tried lowering his salary but that didn’t
help. According to the “Quick Start
Guide” I just need to give him a jump start....with a Tesla coil.....and I
think I see one over there.
{Michael wheels
Paul over..and talks to the
audience}
Michael: At
least that’s what I
think it says...can you folks confirm that?
Michael:
Okay....that’s great. This will take just a moment and then we can talk
about.....physics and communication. I
think I remember how these things work....and, as a last resort, I suppose I
can read the instructions.
Demo: {Large
Tesla coil}
{Paul becomes
the human lightning rod for all to see.....just as Melissa enters...}
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: What was that?!!! …........... Poor man, are you okay?!
Audio: Oil Can or Squeaky Wheel. {May need to be
moved}
Paul: I think so. But before my battery dies again
I must speak with the Wizard of Wisc about my
research project.
Melissa: Wizard did you say?! I’m looking for the wizard too! Did that machine send the wizard a
message?
Michael: Excuse me, I happen to be a physicist and I
know a bit about physics and communication.
As for that Tesla coil, I’m afraid there was more noise than
signal. Still I think I we can use the
results in real device.
Michael: {To the
audience and Melissa} You know, science is all about
making key observations and then using them in new ways. Did you notice anything unusual just now?
Melissa: That machine sure produced a lot of sparks
and noise.
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Of Tesla}
{It was noisy
and there were sparks.}
Michael:
Excellent....Sound and Light are forms of energy which travel through
space. Communication is nothing more
than manipulating how and where energy is transferred.
Would
you like to learn how they work?
Melissa:
If it helps me contact the wizard, I’m all ears....
Michael: There are three main things we need
to
1. Create a
disturbance
2. Transfer that
energy over a distance
3. Maintain the
signal even if there is noise.
Number 1: We first need to
“push” the air
molecules together and then pull them apart.
I’ll need your help.
Here we have small
piston, like that of a bicycle pump, which allows one to either compress
or rarefy the air.
This pressure
gauge keeps track; when the molecules get closer the pressure goes up and when
they move further apart the pressure drops.
So see if you can
push down.
{Melissa pushes
down and holds it there}
Michael: See, when you pushed down the
pressure went up. Now lift up.
{Melissa pull up and holds it there}
Michael: Ahhh the
pressure decreased. Now to make sound
all you have to do is lift up and down about hundred times a second.
RGB: {Pasco Computer: T3C2
on Screen B}
Camera #6: “On
Piston” on Screen A
Demo: {Pasco Piston w/Pressure }
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: (Melissa pushes and pulls as fast as she can ) That was hard,
is that it ?
Michael: No, no yet.
Number 2: We have to direct this
energy. This slinky shows a
“longitudinal” wave moving along a soft spring.
Notice that coils first close together and then farther apart.
Camera #5: “On
Slinky” on Screen A
Demo: {Slinky}
Michael: We can “see” the sound wave energy in this
demo in which we form a “standing wave” inside this tube filled with cork
dust. You have to look carefully but
the cork dust moves really fast where the pressure is small and slow where the
pressure is large.
Demo: {Kundt’s Tube w/Speeker} {need new cork dust and camera angle? }
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: That was pretty nifty...maybe Auntie Em can get me one for my birthday.
Michael: I hope so....if you promise not to play it
too loud.
Third, we need to transfer the sound energy a
long, long distance....say across the room....even when everyone else in the
room is talking. Why don’t you say these
magic words?
{Sound clip of a party
happening while Mellisa says “I like physics” and
then silence.}
So did anyone in the back row hear that?
I didn’t think so, let’s try that again but now with a
device that keeps the sound energy confined, just like that tube. This one looks likes a huge Kraft macaroni
& cheese noodle.
(To Paul) Can
you take this end and give it to someone in the back row? Whoever listens will have to hold it up to
their ear.
{Paul walks up the tube, party
noises again as volunteer listens to Melissa}
Demo: {Whisper Tube}
Melissa:
{I like physics.....I like physics......I like physics}
Michael: So can you tell us what Melissa said?
Audio: Ta-Da??? (timing is good!)
Michael:
Now sound travels only about 330 m/s or 750 mph. That may seem fast but it is much too slow
for your electronic devices. A one word
phone call to California
would take four hours...
Light energy travels about a million times
faster. We just need to control it the
same way with a light pipe.
The physics of refraction and reflection allows use
to redirect a light beam. This plastic
rod shows that if the laser light beam has a small enough angle
then all of light energy is reflected internally.
Demo: {Reflection/Refraction Demo}
Audio: Ta-Da. ??? (timing
is good!)
This is how “fiber
optic” communications work.
Demo: {Light
Pipe & Misc Fiber Demos}
RGB: {PPT SLIDE - Of Tesla}
Michael:
But physics allows us to transfer light energy of any wavelength.
I would like to
end by transferring the Tesla coil’s energy through space in order to this
light bulb. Are you ready?
{Michael hands
out fluorescent tubes to near by audience and asks room to be quiet}
** All Lights OFF **
Demo: { Tesla coil - lights light bulb}
Audio: Ta-Da
** All Lights ON
**
Melissa:
That was entertaining but how do we reach the wizard?
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - Sprott w/Radio}
Michael:
Ahh, that’s easy, the Wizard of Wisc is an amateur radio operator (slide). Let’s use this radio to see
if we can contact him...
Audio: Morse code sound
“Wiskey Nine Alpha
Victor, Viskey Nine Alpha Victor, are
you there?”...
I guess not, but
you might look for him in a house with a very tall antenna on the roof (slide).
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - Sprott w/Radio}
{Melissa exits
stage left, and Micahel
exits stage right.}
Audio: Ta-Da - Exit mix
Military (Blaine Law):
{Peter
introduces Blaine as General Relativity, who explains and demonstrates how
physics has influenced the military.}
{Blaine in Army
Dress Uniform, looking at maps or moving RISK figures on the board.}
Melissa: Oh, my gosh,
that looks complicated!
{Blaine looks
up, distracted}
Blaine: And just what do you think you’re
doing here little lady? Do you have a security clearance?
Melissa: Clearance? I’m looking for the Wizard
of Wisc. Do you know where he might be?
Blaine: Well now, I’m sure we can use some
military technology to find him. You know, physics has influenced the military
for most of history. Let me show you one of the earliest ways people used
physics to aid military efforts. It looks like you’re being followed; leave
that to me!
{Monkey may need
to be reattached to electromagnet. “Practice!!!”}
Demo: {Monkey
& Coconut}
Audio: Oz-Flying
Monkeys
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - Flying Monkey photo ??}
{Variation of the Monkey and coconut demo; possibly substituting a flying
cow and a clump of sod. Explanation of trajectories as one of the first
applications of physics to the military}
Audio: Ta-Da
Blaine: You
see, gravity pulls the same on the {monkey} and on the {ball}, so if I aim
right at the target then it doesn’t matter how fast the {ball} is moving; it
only needs to make it to where the {monkey} is and {the ball} will hit it. Cool
huh? It is not all about weapons, though. The military led the way in advances
in radar technology.
Demo:
{Radar}{Radar demo and
explanation of how
radar works.}
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - of Doppler}
Demo: {Doppler
Ball Effect}
Audio: Train
Whistle or Race Cars
{Doppler effect demo, and explanation of the application of the
Doppler effect to radar.}
Audio: Ta-Da
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - of Einstein and
2 theories}
Blaine: The
military also utilized Einstein’s two theories of relativity to allow for
precise navigation using the GPS
cluster.
{GPS demo and an
explanation of how it works, including the application of relativity.}
Demo:
{GPS}
GPS we used in the Infantry
Demo: {LN2
Cannon - recoil} {Note item is under construction - will launch a plastic
bottle out the muzzle as the cannon rolls back} {We
could joke about launching Melissa out of a cannon, back to Chicago}
Blaine: GPS
works by using three different satellites. When each finds the signal from your
unit, they triangulate your exact position; military GPS systems are accurate to one square
meter! Einstein’s relativity was needed because the satellites are orbiting the
Earth very quickly. When an object travels faster, time actually slows down for
it! Isn’t that weird? Because the clocks on the satellites are running slower
relative to the clock in your unit, engineers have to program the correction so
the times agree. Without relativity, GPS couldn’t work.
To find the Wizard
of Wisc, you’ll need this GPS device. I’ve
completed these
calculations and used the
results to program in his coordinates. It should take you right to him.
Melissa: Thanks, General!
{Blaine hands Melissa
the GPS. Melissa exits stage left, and Blaine exits stage right.}
Audio: Ta-Da - Exit mix
Medicine (Amy Lowitz):
{Peter
introduces Amy who explains and demonstrates how physics has influenced
medicine.}
Amy: fiddling with some part of an
experiment, notices audience) Oh! Hello
there! I was just working on some
research I’ve been doing for the Wizard.
He’s very interested in how physics can help doctors diagnose and treat
patients, you see.
{Set Frequency
meter to “B”}
For example, did
you know that waves can be used in all sorts of ways in medicine? Take sound for instance; sound is made of
waves that travel through the air and into your ears. Most healthy children can hear sound
frequencies from about 20 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. That’s 20,000 waves hitting your hear every
single second! But as we age, we lose
our ability to hear the highest frequencies.
{have everyone raise their hands, lower hands when they can’t
hear the sound anymore}
Demo: {Range of Hearing}
Audio: Ta-Da
Demo: {Dog Whistle and other sound forms on Scope}
{Possible addition!!! Let me know
ASAP}
Audio: Dogs Barking
{Make a comment
about “ There goes Toto” }
Amy: But
waves aren’t just for sound... they can do work too. I have here an ultrasonic cleaner...really
it’s just a pot of water that shakes back and forth at very high
frequency. The vibrations are so small
and so fast that you can’t see them from far away, but you can certainly see
the effect they have on this bottle of carbonated water:
Demo: {Ultrasonic Cleaner}
Audio: Ta-Da
Amy:
Well that’s a lot of fun, but
not so useful. One of the most important
uses of waves in medicine is in medical imaging; that’s using waves to take
pictures of your insides. Two common
ways to do this are with x-rays and ultrasounds. Ultrasounds are used for checking on babies
before they’re born, seeing and diagnosing problems with muscles and tendons,
and even sometimes for cleaning teeth!
Ultrasounds rely on the fact that waves change speed
and wavelength when they pass from one medium to another. On an ultrasound, that shows up as a color
change, but we can see it here on this wave table:
Demo: {Torsion Waveboards}
Audio: Ta-Da
{Melissa wanders in just as the wave table demo is
ending}
Amy: Oh,
hello! I was just explaining to these
fine folks how waves are used in medicine.
Melissa: That’s
interesting and all, but I’m trying to get to the Wizard, and I still don’t
even know how I’m going to get into his house!
Amy: Ah, that I can help you with. You see, I happen to know that a key to the
wizard’s house is hidden in one of these blocks of cheese. Maybe we can use this x-ray machine to find
it!
Camera #5: “On X-Ray
Machine” on Screen C
Camera ##: “On X-Ray
Machine Screen” on Screen A
Demo: {X-Ray Machine}
{we find a mouse in the cheese instead of a key}
Audio: Ta-Da
Amy: Hmm... that’s
not going to help you get into the wizard’s house. Let’s try the ultrasound.
Demo: {Ultrasound of Cheese}
{we find the key and pull it
out of the cheese}
Audio: Ta-Da
Amy:
… There’s the key to the Wizard’s house!
I knew it had to be around here somewhere. The Wizard of Wisc
has been experimenting with ways to use physics to transport his body across
empty space. I think his laboratory is just ahead...
Melissa: Transport
his body across empty space! Oh boy..
{Amy exits stage right while Melissa walks toward the
curtain at stage left.
It would be great if we could get the key to actually
open the curtains}
Closing (Sprott & Melissa):
** All Lights OFF
or at LOW setting with spot on Melissa**
{The curtain parts, revealing Sprott’s upper
body in the mirror.}
Demo: {Pepper’s Ghost}
Sprott: The
Wizard - The Wizard - The Great and Powerful Wizard of Wisc.
I can make myself come and go. And who are you?
Melissa: I’m Melissa, and I’m trying to get back to Chicago.
Sprott:
That’s no problem. I’ve been to Chicago many times and
can easily take you there. But with your knowledge of physics, you should be
able to go anywhere you wish without my help.
{Melissa steps
forward and notices Sprott.}
Melissa: Why, you’re Professor Sprott!
Sprott: Pay no attention
to the man in the box. {Sprott stands up.}
Audio: Ta-Da
Melissa: You were playing a trick on us. We were
seeing your reflection in this piece of plastic. And you were controlling the
lights to make yourself appear and disappear.
Sprott:
I see you have learned some physics. This is called the Pepper’s Ghost
illusion, and it’s often used by magicians, but it’s not magic; it’s physics! I
hope we have convinced you that physics is everywhere, and you use it every
day.
And now I would like to end the show with one last
demonstration, but before I do that, I want to acknowledge Prof. Jim Latimer
RGB: {PPT SLIDES - of Jim Latimer}
who in collaboration
with Frank Ferriano has written yet another version
of our theme music that was premiered by the Capitol City Band here in Madison last summer. It
runs about three minutes, and we will play it at the conclusion of the show.
We began the show
with a tornado, and I would like to end by making for you a cloud...
Demo: {LN2
Cloud}
DVD: Theme music video Audio: Science
Songs
{The show
concludes with Sprott disappearing in the Liquid
Nitrogen Cloud. Theme music video plays. Cast
enters stage right and bows in unison.}
Miscellaneous Notes:
See list of demos we have done in
previous years for other ideas
See the movie script for The Wizard
of Oz
Old Power Point
Slide Shows:
●
2011wop-slides.ppt
●
ShowPromos08.ppt
●
wop09_powerpoint.ppt
Cast and Microphone schedule
Sprott - Wizard of Wisc
- Mic #3
Peter - MC - Mic #2
Melissa - Dorthy - Mic #1
Mike - Lion - Mic #4
Marty - Scarecrow - Mic #3 (Sprott’s Mic)
Kenny - ?? - Mic # 4 (Mike’s Mic)
Michael - ?? - Mic# 3** (Mic# 4 if Paul needs
more time to put on costume)
Paul - Tin Man - Mic# 4 (Mic #4 only if he can put
it in the time - if not use Mic# 3)
Blaine - ?? - Takes
Michael’s Mic. ***(Time will
be tight)***
Amy - ?? - Takes
Paul’s Mic.
Sprott - Wizard of Wisc. - Retakes Mic #3
