Perspective Online

Physics Department Hosts Annual Physics Demo Night

by Bryan Jones

Physics Department Hosts Annual Physics Demo Night

Physics Professor Emeritus Dr. Benjamin de Mayo demonstrated the Bed of Nails.

When one thinks of the term “bed of nails” they either imagine something out of a horror flick or a stunt performed at a magic show. However, no magic was done at the annual Physics Demo Night on November 7, 2014. Sponsored by the Georgia Space Grant Consortium-NASA and the University of West Georgia physics department, the Demo Night show off an array of experiments performed by Physics Professor Dr. Javier Hasbun and Physics Professor Emeritus Dr. Benjamin de Mayo.

“The demos had lots of fire, explosions, and other excitements such as the Frozen Banana (liquid nitrogen), The Bed of Nails, and The Ping Pong Cannon,” said Dr. de Mayo.

In addition, other experiments were performed that included colors, pressures, and lasers. The annual event is also intended to produce interest in physics among the young.

With the emphasis of President Barack Obama’s administration on fostering more students into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers as well as U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of as much as an 18 percent job growth increase in certain areas of this field between now and 2022, it has become more important than ever to recruit students at a very early age.

“We want to generate interest in science, especially in children, so the program is open to anyone over than six years old,” Dr. de Mayo stated.

For more information on events as well as other aspects of the College of Science and Mathematics, visit www.westga.edu/cosm.

 

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Posted: November 21, 2014

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