Community News Archive
Teams prepare for Paperclip Physics 2005
Institute of Physics
15 March 2005
Teams of students from across the UK and Ireland will go head to head in one of the UK’s most challenging science competitions being held in Birmingham on Wednesday 16th March. Paperclip Physics is organised by the Institute of Physics and the students taking part will have to explain some of the most complex ideas in physics to a panel of judges including Nick Owen from BBC TV Midlands. Albert Einstein, played by professional actor Gary Barber, will be a special guest at this year’s competition which takes place in Einstein Year. He’ll be on hand to encourage the teams with their presentations and to award the prizes to the winners at the end of the contest.
Paperclip Physics asks students to become teachers for a day and explain a concept of physics, using everyday objects, to a panel of judges. Thirteen teams have made it through regional competitions involving over 1500 school children. At the grand final, a team from Sydenham High School in London will explain why only pond skaters and prophets can walk on water, while a team from Emmanuel College in Gateshead will perform a sketch of James Bond (007) jumping on to a moving train to demonstrate their knowledge of forces. They will stage an argument between the film director and actor about why 007 would be forced backwards if he was on top of the train but not if he was travelling inside the carriage.
Dr Liz Parvin, co-organiser of the competition said: “Paperclip Physics has been designed to test the students’ ingenuity, understanding of a physics principle or application, ability to work in teams, and, most importantly, their ability to communicate their understanding to non-scientists. It promotes the development of vital communication skills highly sought after by employers and universities”.
Paperclip Physics is a competition for teams of 15 to 17 year olds studying physics. In a maximum of five minutes, each team will make a presentation to a panel of three judges explaining the principle or application of their choice. The three judges include a non-scientist, a physics teacher and a physicist working outside of school education. The teams can use posters and demonstrations if they wish but only items that are found in the home are allowed for the construction of the demonstrations.
Einstein Year is a year-long celebration of physics and its relevance to all our lives. Marking the centenary of Einstein’s three ground-breaking ideas it communicates the vital role physics plays in developing new technologies like cancer screening equipment and mobile phones, whilst addressing big questions such as how the Universe was created and how climate change can be addressed.
The winners will receive a free trip to a summer science camp, donated by sponsors Aventure Scientific, the French leader for “smart” summer camps, where you can discover science through experimenting and having fun.
Find out more about how your school can take part in Paperclip Physics: here
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