The Wonders of Physics

In the matter of physics, the first lessons should contain nothing but what is experimental and interesting to see. A pretty experiment is in itself often more valuable than twenty formulae extracted from our minds. --Albert Einstein
General DescriptionNever has there been a time when an understanding of science has been more important to the well-being of individuals and to the nation than the present. Yet many recent studies have documented a lack of interest in science and hence a decline in science literacy in the United States.
To address this problem, the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1984 began a program called The Wonders of Physics aimed at generating interest in physics among people of all ages and backgrounds. The heart of the program is a fast-paced presentation of physics demonstrations carefully chosen to be entertaining as well as educational. The show has been presented by Professor Clint Sprott on the Madison campus over 200 times to a total audience of about 70,000. In addition a traveling show has been developed and presented by physics graduate students and staff over a thousand times to audiences of all ages throughout Wisconsin and the nation. A variety of educational tools and materials have been developed including videos, software, a demo book and a lecture kit.

Professor Clint Sprott
Annual PresentationScheduled presentations of The Wonders of Physics and tours of the Physics Department laboratories are given on the UW-Madison campus for the general public in mid-February each year. Free tickets are recommended and are available after January 1st using the On-Line Ticket Form. Alternately, you may call (608) 262-2927 or e-mail wonders@physics.wisc.edu. The next public presentations of The Wonders of Physics are scheduled as follows: February 7, 2009 at 1, 4 and 7 pm February 8, 2009 at 1 and 4 pm February 14, 2009 at 1, 4 and 7 pm February 15, 2009 at 1 and 4 pmThese presentations will be held in 2103 Chamberlin Hall, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI. The presentations last a bit over an hour and are suitable for all ages.

Dramatic Entrance
Mini-shows and Traveling ShowsSpecial presentations at the UW-Madison or at your school can usually be arranged for groups of various sizes by calling (608) 262-2927 or by e-mail to wonders@physics.wisc.edu. A donation is requested to cover the cost of these presentations, which is about $200 to $500 plus travel for nonlocal presentations.

Einstein's Brother
Videotapes and DVDsVideotapes (VHS format, other formats by special request) and DVDs (-R) of past presentations of The Wonders of Physics are available for purchase for $25 each or $500 for the entire set (postpaid in the U.S.) from the University of Wisconsin Department of Physics, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1390. Call (608) 262-2927 or e-mail wonders@physics.wisc.edu to order or for further details. The detailed contents of the videos are available in PDF format. The DVDs will play on computers in all world regions, but they will only play on NTSC DVD players (not European PAL DVD players). The quality of the DVDs is much higher than what you see from the streamed version below. If you have the Windows Media Player 9 or later installed, you can videostream the shows directly to your computer for free by clicking on the links below:
Tape 1: 2/11/86 54:33 Classical Physics
Tape 2: 6/03/86 51:35 Classical Physics
Tape 3: 2/15/87 58:46 Classical Physics
Tape 4: 2/21/88 58:46 Classical Physics
Tape 5: 6/24/88 28:46 Wonders of Sound
Tape 6: 2/19/89 58:46 Classical Physics
Tape 7: 2/18/90 58:46 Chaos and Randomness
Tape 8: 2/17/91 58:58 Modern Physics
Tape 9: 2/23/92 58:46 Physics of the Weather
Tape 10: 2/21/93 58:46 Tenth Season Celebration
Tape 11: 2/20/94 57:15 Physics of the Body
Tape 12: 2/19/95 57:30 Physics of Energy
Tape 13: 2/18/96 58:15 Classical Physics
Tape 14: 2/16/97 55:23 Physics of Flying
Tape 15: 2/15/98 58:43 Fifteenth Season Celebration
Tape 16: 2/21/99 59:06 Physics of the Late 1800s
Tape 17: 2/20/00 57:59 Physics of the New Millennium
Tape 18: 2/18/01 56:15 Physics of the 21st Century
Tape 19: 2/17/02 57:26 Physics of Transportation
Tape 20: 2/16/03 57:51 Twentieth Season Celebration
Tape 21: 2/15/04 58:20 States of Matter
Tape 22: 2/20/05 58:56 World Year of Physics
Tape 23: 2/19/06 57:48 Celebration of New Lecture Hall
Tape 24: 2/18/07 58:26 Physics of Water
Tape 25: 3/09/08 58:56 25th Season Celebration

Rotating Platform
Demonstration SoftwareTwo educational computer programs, Physics Demonstrations and Chaos Demonstrations, for IBM PC or compatibles are available from Physics Academic Software, Box 8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8202. Call (800) 955-8275 or (919) 515-7447 to order.

Faraday Cage
Physics Demonstrations BookA full-color, 300-page, heavily illustrated book, Physics Demonstrations containing a detailed description of 85 demonstrations used over the years in The Wonders of Physics is available from University of Wisconsin Press. It is accompanied by two closed-captioned DVD's showing all 85 demonstrations presented to a live audience. Organized to teach the six major areas of classical physics -- motion, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, and light -- the book includes:

• a brief description of each demonstration


• materials lists, with sources for common materials


• preparation procedures


• discussions of the physics principles demonstrated


• potential safety hazards


• references for further information
  
  

Physics Demonstrations Book

Lecture KitA kit describing The Wonders of Physics program in detail, with a list of demonstrations, sources, handouts, publicity samples, a DVD of a recent presentation, and the Physics Demonstrations software is available. (See Preface and Table of Contents.) It is aimed at teachers and scientists who want to give similar public presentations in their own communities. Copies are available for $90 (postpaid in the U.S.) from the UW Department of Physics, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1390, by calling (608) 262-2927, or by e-mail to wonders@physics.wisc.edu.

Lecture Kit
Additional Information

The Wonders of Physics Survey
The Wonders of Physics Traveling Show
Brochure for Educational Products Physics to the People! article in The Physics Teacher (February 1991)
Article about The Wonders of Physics in Wisconsin Week (February 18, 2002)
Article about The Wonders of Physics in the Wisconsin State Journal (February 19, 2006)
Press report and video from show at University of Aveiro, Portugal (July 24, 2006)
Preface and Table of Contents from The Wonders of Physics Lecture Kit
Quotes from audience members and the press
Theme music from The Wonders of Physics
Physics Demonstrations very early manuscript of a published book
Saunders Physics Demonstrations video
Physics Experiments That You Can Do at Home
Demonstration Explanations: A Teacher's Guide A slide presentation about The Wonders of Physics
Updated Poster from November 1996 Denver APS meeting (also in MS-Word format)
Talk given at the November 1996 Denver APS meeting Additional photographs of The Wonders of Physics
Data Base of Physics Lecture Demonstrations at the University of Wisconsin

The Wonders of Physics is supported in part by the Fusion Energy Sciences Program of the U.S. Department of Energy and in part by the National Science Foundation.