The magic of science! | Lauren and Isaac | TEDxKingsParkSalon
Audio Summary
AI Summary
Hello everyone, we're Lauren and Isaac from SciTech, an organization dedicated to igniting curiosity and making science accessible. We believe the journey into STEM begins with a spark, and SciTech aims to provide that spark, influencing over a third of West Australians in STEM careers.
To illustrate this, we invited a volunteer, Jen, on stage. We demonstrated a simple yet powerful science concept by coating her hand in water and then igniting a flame on it. This was possible due to water's high heat capacity, which absorbs a significant amount of energy before getting hot enough to burn. This highlights how SciTech simplifies complex science into fun, dazzling, and memorable experiences.
We then moved on to demonstrating the effects of liquid nitrogen, cooled to -196 degrees Celsius. Using balloons, we showed how cooling air causes it to condense and shrink. We submerged a balloon animal in liquid nitrogen, which shriveled up as the air inside cooled. When reheated, the air expanded, restoring the balloon to its original size, proving that the amount of air remained constant. This visually explains how materials expand and contract with temperature changes.
We then challenged ourselves to shrink a larger balloon to fit in the palm of a hand. While it did shrink significantly, the surprise element was key to making the experience memorable. This demonstrates SciTech's approach: using familiar objects like balloons to present intimidating scientific principles in an engaging and fun way. The unexpected outcome, even if achieved through a trick, emphasizes that surprising moments can lead to discovery and encourages embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.
Finally, we concluded with a large-scale demonstration involving liquid nitrogen and boiling water, creating a dramatic "boom." Our goal at SciTech is to inspire learning and empower individuals to share their scientific curiosity with others, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to begin their own journey into science.