The Physics 420 class is a one term physics demonstrations course. Each student is expected to design and build a demonstration dealing with physics or astronomy, and present it in class and afterword at least twice in a school. The projects are aimed at elementary and secondary students. The students are expected to work independently in the Outreach lab (HEBB 212). We have a weekly two-hour class meeting every Tuesday in Term 1.
Physics 420 Course Description
2022/2023 Class
- The Physics Behind Volcano Eruptions – A Lesson Guide
- Waves and Acoustic Levitator
- Luminosity and the Transit Method
- A Physics-based Introduction to Computer Shading Techniques
- Doppler Effect Demonstration
- Accelerating into the Future
2021/2022 Class
- Sand Art with a 3D Pendulum
- The Pitch-Control Theremin
- Resonance in Wind Instruments
- Pepper’s Ghost Illusion Demonstration
- Physics of Car Collisions
- The Physics of Timekeeping
2020/2021 Class
- Gieger Counter Demo
- Corrosion Experiment
- Teaching with Chladni Plate Demo
- The Pinhole Camera
- Physics Sound Localization Demo
- Flex Sensor Glove
- The Aerodynamics of Flight
- Visualizing Wifi
2019/20 Class
- Brain-Machine Interface Project
- Air Hockey: A Demonstration in Momentum
- Ferrofluid Demonstration
- Circuitry and the Heart
- Bragg’s Diffraction
2018/19 Class
- Physics of Paper Airplanes
- 2D Projectile Motion
- Gravity and Spacetime
- Magnetic Levitation
- Cubes and Tubes (Electromagnetic Induction)
2017/18 Class
- Harry Potter, Physics and Invisibility
- The Physics of Drifting
- Hot Wheels, Conservation of Energy and Friction
- Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and the Stirling Engine
- Exploring Electromagnetism through Eddy Current Braking
- Concussions and the Physics of Helmets
- Heron’s Fountain
- Refraction of Laser Light
- The Physics of Blood Flow
- Conservation of Energy
- Acoustic Propulsion
2016/17 Class
- Making a splash with geysers
- Trebuchet Physics
- Changing Pressure, A Fourth Grade Presention
- Exploring the Properties of Fluid Pressure
- Sound and Acoustics
- Cloud in a Box Demo
- Making Electricity
- Physics in Roller Coaster
- Hydraulics lesson
- Wind power to Electricity
- Using Gravity to Generate Electricity
- Angular Momentum and Torque
2014 Winter Class
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- The Rubens’ Tube by Alison Sturrock
- Electromagnetism: Magnets and Conductors by Peter Doudkine
- Circuit Construction with Makey Makey by Jovy Eramela
- Gravity and Resistance by Ada Ip
- The Power of Light by Ben Leung
- Build Your Own Video Game Console- One Dimensional Pong by Jakob Manning
- Debunking Perpetual Motion by Courtney Markin
- Miniature Laser Tag by Jon Parnell
- Centripetal Motion by Eve Tsou
- Wind Generator by Stephen Wellsby
- Water and Energy by Julie Park
- Air Pressure and Vacuum by Tanner Braithwaite
- Brachistochrone Exploration by Teresa Fabbricino
- Pressure and Force: Bed of Nails by Connor Greig
- Magnetic Levitation by Felipe Iriondo
- Tesla Coil by Andreea Pirvu
- Refraction by Kacper Wardynski
2012 Winter Class
- The Physics of Earthquakes by Amy O’Brien
- The Binary System and Electromagnetism by Billy Leung
- Build Your Own Microwave Telescope by Daniel Clouston
- RGB LED Thermometer by Jordan Heath
- The Next Step in Projectile Motion by CJ Brassington
- Paper Plate Speakers by Kevin McLeod
- Understanding the Coriolis Force by Tony Battistel
- Bike Generator by Sarah Lee-Johnston
2011-2012 Class
- Solar Cells by Carmen Huang
- Wave Demonstration by Thomas Brennan
- Hot Air Balloon by Chris Sutton
- Drag Force by Alesa Rabson
2010-2011 Class
- Electric Motors and Generators by Andrew Holliday
- Fluid Flow by Paul Drosinis
2009-2010 Class
- The Temperature Dependence of the Speed of Sound by Lanqiao George Yuan
- Resistive Heating by Mark Johnson
- The Physics of Tsunamis by Leo Pan
- Investigating CRT Technology: Using a Magnetic Field to Measure Pixel Pitch by Anthony Mollica
- Rubber Band Powered Airplanes by Angela Coburn
2008-2009 Class
- Optical Communications by Anna Jain
- Angular Momentum and the Rolling Chain by Anthony Toljanich
- The Human Lens by Cian-Locklainne Rebekah Zybutz
- Projectile Motion: The Pneumatic Canon by Elie El-Zammar
- Displacer-type Stirling Engine by Hiroko Nakahara
- The Physics of Hot Air Balloons by Karen Schmelcher
- The Galilean Thermometer by Omar Elwan
- Rotational Kinetic Energy: The Forgotten Kinetic Energy by Reuben Heredia
2007-2008 Class
- Introduction to Biomechanics by Jessica Olfert
- The Physics of Animal Flight by Lisa Acorn
- Hydroelectricity by Nicole Strumpfer
2006-2007 Class
- Electromagnetism by Jason Cheung
- The Application of Physics in Landmine Detection by Ivan Gourlay
- The Greenhouse Effect by Benjamin Jang
- Protection in Sports by Kevin Kim
- The Physics of Nuclear Reactors by Heather Leanne King
- Thermodynamics by Patrick Lawrence
- The Physics of Sound and Dynamic Speakers by Newton Lo
- The Nature of Light by Andrew Lui
- Infrared Radiation by Eric Major
- The Glowing Pickle by Jennifer Dawn
- Mechanisms of Heat Transfer by Aminollah Sabzevari
- The Van De Graff Generator by Gary Zhong
- How Airplane Wings Really Work by Tony Yang
2005-2006 Class
- The Earth’s Moon by Martha Milkeraitis
- Magnetism by Dean Moncado
- Supersaturation, Superheating and Supercooling by George Kamps
- Circular Motion by Kathy Buckland
- States of Matter by Greg Henderson
- Oscillatory Motion by Peter Legun
- Relative Motion by David Teichrob
- Gyroscopic Stabilization by Dylan Falk
- The Physics of Tsunamis by Anthony Uy
- The Physics of Rubber Bands by Zach Hulbert
2004-2005 Class
- Vacuum Pressure and The Ping-Pong Cannon by Don Colangelo
- Blue Skies and Red Sunsets by Jehan Casey
- Heat Transfers: The Physics of Computer Cooling by Kenneth Yu
- DC Electric Motor and Generator by Eric Yeh
- Hydraulics and Pressure by Samantha Lindenbach
- Ohm’s Law & First Year Physics by Mitsuko Osugi
- Plasma Physics by Matthew Wan
- Resonance by Graham Langridge
- “Wormbot” in the Wonderful World of Friction by Geoff Bosdet*
- The Physics of Bridges by Norman Kwong
- The Physics of Tornadoes and Hurricanes by Sean Lay
*Internet Explorer required
2003-2004 Class
- The Conservation of Energy by Jason Chow
- The Coefficient of Friction by Joe Massie
- Fastball Physics by Dave Gautier
- Force Effects on a Wing by Sam Bain
- The Physics of Storms by Marisa Demers
- Air Pressure and Hovercrafts by John Dobbin
- The PEM Fuel Cell by Shane Luke
- Static and Kinetic Friction by Dave Patterson
- Model Helicopter-Thrust and Angular Momentum by Ramandeep Singh Dadyal
- The Doppler Effect by Marissa Carrasco
- The Physics of Catapults and Projectile Motion by Aaron Dhillon
- Mechanics on a Frictionless Inclineby Junyoung Lee
2002-2003 Class
- Newton’s Third Law by Marco Fernandez-Concha
- Projectile Motion in Two Dimensions by Jim Grant
- Physics and Driving by Julie Haycock
- The Theory of Color by Helge Seetzen
2001-2002 Class:
- The Physics of Aviation by Jo McFetridge
- Strings and Sound by Eric Reynar
- Optics and Magic by Caroline Chiang
- The Physics of Sustainable Electricity Generation by James Rowe
- The Model Rail Gun by Shaun Dychko
- Motors and Generators by Kevin Nottle
2000-2001 Class:
- Vector Kinematics in Two Dimensions (The Physics of Projectile Motion) by Darren Gock
- Pressure and Heat by Zachary Fong
1999-2000 Class:
- The Principles of Cloud Formation by Dory Sheldan
- Sound and Frequency Spectrum by Daniel Bernard Necker
- ALTA Project by Flora Graham
- Theory of Flight by Sarah Bendall
1997-98 Class:
- Electromagnetic Induction by James Arndt
- The Physics of Rainbows by Cecilia Lei
- Cloud Chambers an interactive look at Radiation by Chris Goble
1996-97 Class:
- Physics of Car Accidents by Danny Borges
- Superconductivity by Bruce Gowe
- Model Rocketry by Glenn Grant
- Magnetohydrodynamic Boats by Reg Milley
1995-96 Class:
- Demystifying Lasers by Mark Hamilton
- Discovering Electricity and Magnetism by Hester Hageman and Douglas Monroe
- Gravity by Tracy Fraser
- The Fundamentals of Fluids by Amber Parranto and Anthony Ceh
- Bernoulli’s Principle and the Physics of Flight by David Livingstone
Note: The above projects are the work of the students, and the opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the Outreach Program. For more information, contact Andrzej Kotlicki.