Teaching: Mad Science (Pics)

So this is my Friday and Tuesday evenings. The pay is low but damn it's fun!


A lot of the experiments revolve around air pressure...like who can blow up the bag more.


My "vortex generator": a trash can with a hole in the bottom, a bungie cord and a piece of plastic. It launches out a column of air that you can feel fifteen feet away, made visible by filling it up with smoke from a smoke machine


Tap it the right way and you get smoke rings!



The kids have just blown out some candles using the vortex generator. The kid in the red shirt was slamming his whole arm against the plastic to get enough force to knock them out!


Using our magical, mystical science powers to get the water to change color... Actually, the water has a base in it and a base indicator that turns pink. When poured into vinegar (that looks like water), it neutralizes and turns clear.


More of my magical, mystical science powers making the ball levitate. Oh, wait, is that leaf blower between my legs?


This is just a fun trick... Basically, if you push the skewer through the darker spots of a balloon (where there is still some elasticity) and you do it fast enough, the latex will hold a seal around the wood and you can push it clean through without popping it.


The Mad Science dance. Her shaking it up (with the acetone I just poured inside it) will break down the plastic of the foam peanuts, releasing the air inside them and making them shrivel up into a piece of plastic the size of a quarter. Poof!


One of my favorites: Evaporated methanol + water cooler jug = Jet engine

Yes, they pay me to do this!