PA 126/11
April 14 2011
Why doesn’t Barbie look like your mum?
What happens if you stick a sharp stick into a balloon? It pops, right? Well, not necessarily, as The
University of Nottingham’s Physics Buskers are keen to demonstrate…
The Physics Buskers — whose last appearance was at Nottingham’s Light Night — are busy brushing
up their skills ready for May Fest 2011, the University’s free community open day for family, friends
and alumni on Saturday 7 May.
Barbie dolls, balloons, fluorescent pens and liquid nitrogen all play a part in helping to shake off the
bearded-old-man-in–white-coats image and making people realise that science is fun.
“The aim is to raise interest in science and to let people know that it’s relevant to everyone,” explains
Professor Penny Gowland, of the School of Physics and Astronomy. “People from age six to 60 —
they’re all interested.”
“This is fun for us too,” agrees lab technician Paul Munday, as he dips a balloon into liquid nitrogen.
The balloon deflates completely. He removes the wrinkled balloon and blows on it gently. Within
seconds it reinflates.
“The liquid nitrogen is so cold — about minus 196 degrees — that it liquefies the air inside the
balloon, making it about 700 times smaller. But the air is still there, it hasn’t gone away. When it
warms back up it expands again and so the balloon reinflates,” he explains.
Then he pours the liquid nitrogen into a miniature steam engine; the gas that it gives off sets the
engine in motion.
Other ‘tricks’ include dropping peanuts into fizzy water, writing on the audience with ‘invisible’ ink
and making table-top rockets.
Paula Croal, first year PhD Physics student, demonstrates the balloon trick with a kebab stick. “This is
a fab idea! I’m going to recreate this with my nephew — he’ll be amazed!”
Paula, along with Julian Sterling, has just spent several weeks working with city schoolchildren for a
module on communicating science — part of the School’s outreach work.
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Julian and Paula worked with year 9 students at Nottingham Academy, helping them to design and
build rockets and rocket launchers.
The aim of the project was to spark an interest in the students and to make them think about studying
at university. And, again, to challenge the stereotype about scientists.
“The kids were a little surprised when I turned up,” says Paula. “They assumed I’d be a man!”
After two weeks working with Paula and Julian, the students created an activity for 70 year 5 pupils
from Jesse Boote Primary School to do as part of a ‘trickle down’ approach.
“I was quite impressed when I heard the year 9s explaining how the physics worked to the younger
kids because we hadn’t drummed it in to them, they had just taken it in during the work we were
doing,” says Paula.
“They really enjoyed it and by the end they all said they would definitely recommend it to another
year as a worthwhile thing to do.”
It’s the introduction of physics busking to The University of Nottingham that earned its creator —
PhD student Claire Sweetenham — a Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Award last year. One busking
event at Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Centre attracted more than 600 people.
By now the lab has come alive with spinning lights, noises, bubbles and smoke — and lots of
discussion and laughter.
Finally, one of the students practises his Barbie spiel: “Why doesn’t Barbie look like your mum?”
“Because her legs are too long.”
He then plunges Barbie into a glass of water and: “Voila! Now she looks like your mum!”
Pictures are available on request from Karen Shale on (0115) 8468545
(Karen.shale@nottingham.ac.uk)
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More information is available from Karen Shale on +44 (0)115 846 8545 or at
Karen.shale@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham, described by The Sunday Times University Guide
2011 as ‘the embodiment of the modern international university’, has award-winning campuses in the
United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75
universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings. It was named
‘Europe’s greenest university’ in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, a league table of the
world’s most environmentally-friendly higher education institutions, which ranked Nottingham
second in the world overall.
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The University is committed to providing a truly international education for its 40,000 students,
producing world-leading research and benefiting the communities around its campuses in the UK and
Asia.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality,
according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with almost 60 per cent of all research
defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008
ranked the University 7th in the UK by research power. The University’s vision is to be recognised
around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy &
sustainability, and health.
More news from the University at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news
May Fest 2011 is on Saturday 7 May, 11am to 5.30pm, at The University of Nottingham. The
University is throwing open its doors to the community — with heaps of free activities for all ages.
The Physics Buskers, thunder and lightning on demand and brain games. Get a glimpse of some of the
amazing things that are happening on your doorstep. Visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/mayfest