A young volunteer agrees to participate in a science experiment. As he sits on the homemade hoverboard, skepticism crosses his face. The physics presenter asks the audience what they need to make the hoverboard work. Shouts come from all directions, "Air!" The presenter gets down on the ground and tries to blow air under the hoverboard. Laughter erupts from the young crowd. "More air!". Three presenters blow air toward the ground, and more laughter comes.
Fortunately, someone has a leaf blower, and they fit it into a hole in the hoverboard. The boy looks genuinely surprised when the hoverboard lifts a couple of inches off the ground when the blower turns on. The presenters gently pass the hoverboard back and forth as it glides.
This lesson in friction force was one of many lessons local youth were fortunate to experience during the University of Illinois Physics Van demonstration hosted by Edgar County 4-H. Nearly forty children of all ages could participate and watch around fifteen different demonstrations on states of matter, air, Newton's Laws, and electricity.
The Physics Van is an outreach program of the University of Illinois Physics Department, part of the Grainger College of Engineering based in Urbana-Champaign. Local 4-H Program Coordinator Maria Crandell says, "We always try to provide opportunities for youth to learn and connect."
A hallmark of 4-H is using peers to connect to young audiences, and Crandell says, "By collaborating with the University and using students as presenters, we see a fantastic connection."
No science show would be complete without a grand finale. The crowd gathered outside the 4-H fairgrounds building to watch the college students create an enormous explosion of bubbles by forcefully pouring liquid nitrogen into a bucket of water and liquid soap.
Illinois 4-H produces the youth leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, stewards, and builders we need to solve world problems. We can tailor local programs to meet the needs of youth in school classrooms, after-school programs, or community groups. For more information, visit online go.illinois.edu/4Hprograms or call the local Extension Office at 217-465-8585.
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.