Visitors at Echo, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain got a special treat on March 22nd as students, staff, and faculty from the University of Vermont were there to facilitate hands-on science activities as part of Physics Phun Day. The Physics department has a long-standing relationship with Echo, and it’s an annual tradition for the Society of Physics Students to come down and bring some toys to help explain and illuminate fundamental principles of science with engaging activities visitors can try. 

CEMS Physics professors and students share "phun" activities with young ECHO visitors.
Physics lecturer Luke Donforth (left) and PhD candidate Andrew Lewis share physics demonstrations with inquiring minds at ECHO's annual "Physics Phun Day."

Because the current traveling exhibit at Echo is Rube Goldberg machines, the focus was on many different types of simple machines. There were motors, levers, launchers, magnets, pulleys, and more to play with. Some of the experiences were hands-on activities; others were whole-body activities, as visitors could lift each other up with a giant lever or see themselves flipped upside down in a concave mirror. There were chances to make predictions, be surprised, and investigate outcomes. 

CEMS Physics students share "phun" activities with young ECHO visitors.
UVM sophomore Cameron Hafele and junior Leo Neumann man physics demonstration stations.

The Physics department considers it a positive outcome for the public and the college students who participate. It’s essential for developing scientists to be able to explain different scientific information at a variety of levels. So, while their research in quantum processes or organic light emitting diodes might not be the topic of conversation with kindergartens, it’s still helpful for the folks working on their bachelor’s degrees or Ph.D. to be able to break down something like mechanical advantage so that anyone can understand it. The thirteen from people UVM had the opportunity to interact with over 400 Echo visitors that day. 

CEMS Physics Professor and Department Chair Matt Dawber shares physics demonstrations with family at ECHO
Physics professor and department chair Matt Dawber shares a series of active demonstrations with families attending "Physics Phun Day" at ECHO.

In addition to the contraptions that the public got to play with, the physicists also brought down some larger items used for lecture demonstrations in college classes. Department Chair Matthew Dawber was on-hand to provide two shows with equipment, like a ping-pong ball cannon, that would have been a little much for a young child to handle directly. Professor Dawber said, “These activities are some of the most fun parts of physics. I love coming out and sharing them.” Visitors watched and enjoyed as he spun himself around, raced objects, launched projectiles, and helped them see how it connected to their lives.

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