just came from the most interesting physics class i've ever been to. see here, my current physics professor is undoubtedly the best one i've had so far. no wonder he's one of the recipients of this year's teaching excellence award. he comes to class armed with all those props for his demonstrations, or just stuff to sustain his students' interest until the last nanosecond of the lecture.
this time he brought along a board with nails (like the one that physicists use to demonstrate you could actually lie on a bed of nails), a dozen ping pong balls, a dozen tennis balls, etc....but the most blogworthy thing he brought to class was a magnetic plate on a stand plus a tiny superconductor. he wanted to validate that a superconductor could actually levitate above a magnet. he brought out the tiny superconductor and placed it on top of the magnetic plate. nothing happened. that was because the superconductor would only work with very low temperatures right, and the lecture theatre we were in wasn't cold enough (though i was freezing already).
that's when he brought out the jug of liquid nitrogen. i've never seen liquid nitrogen before (and so do most of my classmates due to the ooohs and aaaahs elicited). i got so excited that i was sitting on the edge of my seat already. he poured out some on a plastic cup and submerged the superconductor in it, and after a few moments, he placed the thing on top of the magnet. voila! it floated above the magnet and even 'ran' along the magnetic track. as he was doing this, it is important to note that all the while, the liquid nitrogen was also changing to its gaseous phase, and thus the overall effect was like that of a magician performing magic tricks and leaving the audience entranced.
this demonstration concluded our lecture, but even so, many remained (me included) to have a closer look at the liquid nitrogen and play with the superconductor. our lecturer incessantly reminded us not to dip our finger in liquid nitrogen, or else...hehe=)
so there. i want to see dr sow chorng haur's face again on the poster displaying the winners of the teaching excellence award for next year.
this time he brought along a board with nails (like the one that physicists use to demonstrate you could actually lie on a bed of nails), a dozen ping pong balls, a dozen tennis balls, etc....but the most blogworthy thing he brought to class was a magnetic plate on a stand plus a tiny superconductor. he wanted to validate that a superconductor could actually levitate above a magnet. he brought out the tiny superconductor and placed it on top of the magnetic plate. nothing happened. that was because the superconductor would only work with very low temperatures right, and the lecture theatre we were in wasn't cold enough (though i was freezing already).
that's when he brought out the jug of liquid nitrogen. i've never seen liquid nitrogen before (and so do most of my classmates due to the ooohs and aaaahs elicited). i got so excited that i was sitting on the edge of my seat already. he poured out some on a plastic cup and submerged the superconductor in it, and after a few moments, he placed the thing on top of the magnet. voila! it floated above the magnet and even 'ran' along the magnetic track. as he was doing this, it is important to note that all the while, the liquid nitrogen was also changing to its gaseous phase, and thus the overall effect was like that of a magician performing magic tricks and leaving the audience entranced.
this demonstration concluded our lecture, but even so, many remained (me included) to have a closer look at the liquid nitrogen and play with the superconductor. our lecturer incessantly reminded us not to dip our finger in liquid nitrogen, or else...hehe=)
so there. i want to see dr sow chorng haur's face again on the poster displaying the winners of the teaching excellence award for next year.
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