News Archive
Freaky physics at Butlins
The Institute of Physics
14 October 2008
Spooky science is the order of the day at Butlins. From today, Tuesday, 14 October, for three weeks, family fun at Butlins will be taking a turn for the eerie as Redcoats get active with thunder cans, cackling caps and spooky balloons.
In time for Halloween, the Institute of Physics (IOP) have worked with the Redcoats to produce a stage show which includes a hair raising Van de Graaff generator, flame tornadoes, ghosts in mirrors and a comfy bed of sharp nails.
All three Butlins seaside Resorts, Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis, are taking their half-term holiday makers on a tour through freaky physics.
Mike Godolphin, Head of Entertainment, at Butlins, said, “After the success of last year’s collaboration with IOP, we were really keen to follow it up this year. The time of year seemed perfect for something a little bit scary. We’re sure that children and adults alike will really like the activities and shows that are being laid on.”
The spectacular physics of a Van de Graaff generator at full charge or of flame tornadoes will wow audiences of any age but younger visitors will also have the chance to test some physics themselves when they make their own thunder cans, cackling cups and spooky balloons which they’ll use as sound effects during the Redcoats’ interactive shows.
Parents might be slightly worried to think that their kids will leave Butlin’s knowing how to create thunder in the living room, with just a cardboard tube and a spring; scare relatives all day creating the noise of a cackling witch, using just a paper cup and a piece of string; or to think of their kids’ new found ability to spook the family pet with a balloon and a piece of Lego.
However, Elizabeth Jeavans, Outreach Officer at the IOP, said, “This is a great opportunity for young and old to have a play and think about the fun and sometimes weird side of physics.”
For those not visiting Butlins this half term, instructions on how to make the spooky physics tricks, and easy to understand explanations of the science behind them, are available at www.physics.org.
Last year, IOP worked with Butlins to devise an interactive alien-related treasure hunt, trying to help Echo, an alien from the planet Fizzix, find the scattered parts of his damaged spaceship.
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