IOP Post-Outreach Report 2014
Dundee University Physics Society
Dates of Outreach: 13/9/13, 18/10/13, 15/11/13, 22/11/13.
Place of Outreach: Boy’s Brigade – 6th/8th Company Dundee
Logistical Problems: Our original plan was to visit a girl guides group in St Madoes (outside of
Dundee). Unfortunately, due to problems with their schedule and a lack of busses, this did not
happen. They have, however, asked us to take a session later this semester instead using the same
equipment and resources that were used at Boy’s Brigade. As a result of this we held a double
session with the Boy’s Brigade on November 22nd.
Project: Each session at the Boy’s Brigade consisted of travel to and from the hall by bus from the
city centre. 4 society members were involved in leading a session, with the leaders working in pairs
to walk the groups of boys through some basic experiments on a variety of physics and science
based topics. The four sessions consisted of 4 completely separate sets of experiments and
discussions. Firstly, we led a discussion and demonstration based around renewable energies and
the working physics behind (primarily) wind farms and solar power. Our next session was based on
Optics and light. For this we focussed on everyday objects such as mirrors, glass and other materials
that the participants would be familiar with. For our third session we concentrated this around
waves and sound. We used a multitude of instruments and some other more unfamiliar equipment
to show different phenomenon. Lastly, we used a session to show how gravity and other basic rules
of mechanics affect the world around this. Using familiar objects like sports balls, toy cars, a marble
run and others, we demonstrated and let the boy’s take part in experiments which would show
these. We received almost wholly positive feedback from the participants, who were at an age
where physics as a school subject might still be alien to them. We have since been asked to return in
the next session (beginning in August 2014) and plan to take up this offer.
Below is a set of accounts of three of the leaders who took part in one session each.
Amy Morton – Year 1 Physics Undergraduate Student.
“I volunteered to help out with the optics experiments for the BB. We demonstrated properties of
light using light boxes and lasers, and prisms and mirrors. Using these, we showed how light reflects
and refracts through different mediums and shapes. We also used a tinfoil-covered polystyrene box
and a lamp to melt marshmallows and explain the physics behind it.
All the boys seemed very interested and engaged in the experiments, and asked and answered
questions, and seemed to enjoy learning the physics behind the experiments. It could have been
better if we had a bit more time to try other experiments, but on the whole, the experiment night
was very worthwhile.”
Catherine O’Prey – Year 3 Physics Undergraduate Student.
“On November 22nd, myself along with 3 others attended the third and final session at a local Boys
Brigade. The aim of this session was to help them understand mechanics through four simple
experiments. The first was a demonstration of toy cars rolling down a ramp, the boys had to pick a
car which they thought would travel the fastest taking into consideration mass and friction of each
car. The second experiment was a marble run activity, the boys were split into two teams and tried
to get the marble through a system which they had built the fastest. In the next activity we made the
boys attempt to balance a ping pong ball using a hair dryer and in the final experiment we got the
boys to drop a small ball against a football whilst they were both hitting the floor; each of these
experiments demonstrating simple mechanics.
Overall this was a very worthwhile experience and I feel the boys got a lot out of it. They became
very involved and engrossed in the activities, asking questions and wanting to find out more. If we
were to return to the Boys Brigade I would perhaps increase the level of the physics to make it even
more rewarding for the boys.