Physics Van Uses Exciting Demos to Pique Students’ Interest in Science

Above: Physics Van Co-Coordinator Japneet Singh has a table set with a flower vase and burning candle.
Above: Physics Van Co-Coordinator Japneet Singh has a table set with a flower vase and burning candle.

Below: he has jerked the table cloth off and the items remain in place: an illustration of Inertia, Newton's first Law of Motion. Below: he has jerked the table cloth off and the items remain in place: an illustration of Inertia, Newton's first Law of Motion.

February 5, 2020

When seeking to attract youngsters to STEM and entice them into a journey along the STEM pipeline, there’s no campus group that does a better job of helping get kids moving in the right direction than the Physics Van. Playing the benevolent Pied Piper of Physics, this long-time campus group, practically the grandfather of campus STEM outreach groups, pulls out all the stops year after year, using its unique brand of fun, engaging, often spectacular demonstrations about science, particularly physics, interspersed with humorous banter bordering on slapstick comedy, to show kids just how fun and exciting science can be.

What is Physics Van? It’s a group of mostly engineering and physics students (and even a few non-engineering students) who do demos featuring explosions, lots of noise, light shows, and, of course, that make liberal use of liquid nitrogen. Physics Van was begun by Physics teaching guru Professor Mats Selen over 25 years ago. Since the van's first performance at the University Primary School in the spring of 1994, hundreds of Illinois undergraduate students—part physicist, part teacher, part actor, and part stand-up comedian—have done 800+ shows helping around 150,000 children discover the wonders of science.

What are their demos like? In one, a miniature cannon filled with liquid nitrogen is plugged with a cork; then as the liquid nitrogen warms up, it expands, causing the cork to “shoot” across the room. In another, a volunteer further demonstrates liquid nitrogen’s fun properties by, after bouncing a room-temperature ball, immersing it briefly in liquid nitrogen, then attempting to “bounce” it again, only to have it shatter because it’s become brittle. Another demo illustrates Bernoulli's principle: a student levitates a soccer ball by blowing air over its top.

The Van currently has two coordinators: Spencer Hulsey, a senior in Physics, and Japneet Singh, a junior majoring in Computer Science and Astronomy with a minor in Physics. While Singh plans on working in the software industry, he says he’d love to somehow incorporate science and education into his work. Singh has been a part of Physics Van since his freshman year, but this is his first year as coordinator. He shares why he got involved with the outreach.

"I love working with children," he admits, "and I have a passion for sharing my love of science. I remember watching Bill Nye in the classroom, and watching MythBusters at home, and I wanted to bring that same awe to others."

Also, Singh feels that being able to interact with people outside of the University, especially with people of different ages, is a nice break from everyday life at school. Plus, it gives students an idea of what people off campus are like, and allows them to give back. "The interaction allows us to get closer to the communities surrounding UIUC, and lets us give back in a way that promotes education and curiosity."

In addition to the two coordinators, there are currently about 20 active members; however, the team changes annually as students graduate and new kids come in. Another unique aspect of Physics Van is that it’s not an RSO (Registered Student Organization), but an official Physics Department outreach. Its two co-coordinators are actually departmental employees and the volunteers involved work for them.

Physics Van co-coordinator Spencer Hulsey and a volunteer do a demo illustrating Bernoulli's principle
Physics Van co-coordinator Spencer Hulsey and a volunteer do a demo illustrating Bernoulli's principle.

The number of shows the group does varies from two a month to three a week. These are mostly local gigs, but when they can find volunteers, they do trips that are further afield. For instance, July 19th this past summer, they accompanied the Illinois Marching Illini to present at the I Am Fest in Chicago. The van has also traveled out of state: while Hulsey says she's personally driven as far as St Louis, the Van has also been to New Mexico and to Florida.

Local schools are Physics Van’s main bread and butter. “We go for free,” admits Hulsey. “Like, ‘Hey, free show!’” They visit classrooms, assemblies, and also a lot of STEM nights. “Pretty much everybody has a STEM night now,” Hulsey claims, “which I love.”

The Van also does a variety of community events, including at the library, where they can reach kids like homeschoolers and downtown Urbana’s First Friday event held from 4–11 p.m. the first Friday of every month, which features local artists. The Van also does events fairly regularly with the Cub Scouts. Some more out of the ordinary events, such as at parks, they try to make happen if it works out with students’ schedules. Hulsey has also helped Physics Professor Paul Kwiat landscape the science escape room hall. Plus, they’ve presented at the local Farmer's Market in Urbana. “But we don't do birthday parties,” she emphasizes.

Chicago ChiS&E students enjoying the Physics Van show on December 7, 2019.
Chicago ChiS&E students enjoying the Physics Van show on December 7, 2019.

And of course, the van participates in campus visits, such as the group of Chicago Public School students who visited in December as part of the ChiS&E program. After doing numerous hands-on activities throughout the morning, the got to experience the Physics Van, which would hopefully stick in their memories for a long time to come, reminding them of their visit and how fun science can be.

In another big event where students and their parents visit campus, Engineering Open House, Physics Van does a completely different show, incorporating some of the demos done in the different physics classes. “We show off!” Hulsey says.

Since the outreach is called Physics Van, and they have lots of cumbersome equipment to haul from place to place, sometimes over great distances, one would assume that they have one…a van, that is. Actually, it’s not; it's a suburban. Hulsey claims the aging vehicle, a 1999 or 2000 model, is “Just about as old as I am.” It hit 112,000 miles this year.

A Physics Van volunteer shows the visitors how a balloon animal immersed into a vat of liquid nitrogen shrivels up because the air molecules inside the balloons have condensed, then expands again as it reaches room temberature.
A Physics Van volunteer shows the visitors how a balloon animal immersed into a vat of liquid nitrogen shrivels up because the air molecules inside the balloons have condensed, then expands again as it reaches room temberature.

As far as the nuts and bolts of how Physics Van works, Hulsey admits that although they sometimes change up the script or the order, many demos haven’t changed much since the van was begun: “It still works with demos that are probably 20 years old,” she admits. Which makes sense.  Physics is physics; it’s made up of laws that aren’t going to change.

Regarding the coordinators' duties, Hulsey says training newbies is the “coolest, the best thing about Physics Van, man, hands down,” and also the easiest. “It's all science that we learned in middle school or high school.” They train new members about 10 minutes before the show starts, explaining how the demo is done, then suggesting a couple of jokes. “And it's never not worked like that,” she brags. Every volunteer she’s ever worked with “just clicks right on and is ready to go.” Even undergrads who are “really shy.” (Hulsey concedes that: “Engineers are not known for their extroversion and public speaking enjoyment.”) Plus, van members often tell stories to make demos engaging and funny (Hulsey says one of their goals is to make kids laugh.) Regarding newcomers, she says sometimes theyl even come up with their own unique story to go with their demo.

Above: A Physics Van volunteer interacts with a Chicago student who is helping out with a demo which involves making the whole pad his stool is on move...with him seated on it.
Above: A Physics Van volunteer interacts with a Chicago student who is helping out with a demo which involves making the whole pad his stool is on move...with him seated on it.

Below: They've attached a high-powered blower to the mat his seat is on, which is now floating on a cushion of air, and can be shoved back and forth. Below: They've attached a high-powered blower to the mat his seat is on, which is now floating  on a cushion of air, and can be shoved back and forth.

During the demo briefing, new participants also receive descriptions explaining the physics. (Volunteers are not all engineering majors, but might be from, say, political science or biology, and not well-versed in physics.) “Because we're teaching some of our volunteers concepts I didn't even know,” she acknowledges. In her opinion, teaching physics not just to youngsters, but to fellow college students, is “a nice double whammy.” She calls their show very basic, also very relaxed. For instance, should someone forget something, a coordinator or another volunteer jumps in and explains, "Oh, yeah, by the way...”

Regarding how the two co-coordinators share the workload, Hulsey says they’ve realized that they each have different skills and talents, so they divide up the work accordingly. “Like I love to public speak, so I will take on more shows,” she admits. “But the other coordinator may take on more responding to emails and keeping things straight.”

According to Hulsey, one of Physics Van’s goals is to be a resource for schools. “My school would never have funding for any of these demos, right?” she explains. “The schools that we visit, would never have the opportunity to show kids liquid nitrogen and explosions. So we can do that. We can do things schools can’t.”

Summing up the benefits of the outreach, Hulsey says Physics Van students learn to take complicated scientific principles and make them simple enough so kids can understand: “So definitely public speaking and interacting with people, communicating science is something the coordinators learn a lot and volunteers get a benefit from. Anybody can learn how to speak complicated science things to small children. That's a cool skill to have.”

Of course, the most important benefit of Physics Van is its impact on the kids. "Our show gets kids excited about science," shares Singh. "While regular science class in school can be fun, nothing quite beats an in-school assembly where a trash can explodes at the end!"

According to Singh, the Van's greatest impact is convincing kids that they too can become scientists. "We use our demonstrations and explanations to engage the kids in the wonders of science, and teach them that anyone can be a scientist, not just adults. We have had children approach us after the show telling us how much fun they had and saying that they want to become scientists when they grow up."

Story and photographs by Elizabeth Innes, Communications Specialist, I-STEM Education Initiative.

More: K-6 Outreach, Physics, 2020

For more on the Physics Van, see the I-STEM articles:

Physics Van volunteers outside Loomis Lab in the aftermath of their soapsuds explosion.
Physics Van volunteers outside Loomis Lab in the aftermath of their soapsuds explosion.
Physics Van Co-Coordinator Japneet Singh and a volunteer struggle to pull apart a pair of evacuated Magdeburg hemispheres from which the air has been sucked out, causing a vacuum. They couldn't.
Physics Van Co-Coordinator Japneet Singh and a volunteer struggle to pull apart a pair of evacuated Magdeburg hemispheres from which the air has been sucked out, causing a vacuum. They couldn't.




SOLIDarity EXperiences (SOLIDEX) through the Eyes of Children

What do children aged 11-13 in two countries think about solidarity?
Full Story

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company
Full Story

Innovation, Inspiration on display at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Undergraduate Research Week took place April 23-29, 2023, and culminated Thursday, April 27, 2023
Full Story

What would you like to see – 3D printers? Magnets? Solar-powered racing cars? Robobrawl?

March 28, 2023
EOH occurs Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Full Story

Tour of Illinois’ Materials Research Lab through I-MRSEC sparks Franklin students’ interest in Materials Science

March 1, 2023
Students from the Champaign middle school had a tour of the Material Research Laboratory (MRL) in early February.
Full Story

Nobel Project’s End-of-Year Zoom Bash Recaps Learning

February 1, 2022
The STEM Illinois Nobel Project held a special, end-of-the-year Zoom event celebrating its participating students’ achievements.
Full Story

It’s not magic, it’s physics

January 26, 2022
In Franklin STEAM Academy, Musical Magnetism program makes STEM fun, approachable.
Full Story

Program prepares STEM educators to teach all students

November 30, 2021
This summer, a group of educators gathered to learn about engaging STEM activities they can do with their students.
Full Story

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program

November 11, 2021
Undergrads get a taste of research through I-MRSEC’s REU program.
Full Story

Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp

November 1, 2021
Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp Incorporates Art, Design, Mechatronics, and Mentoring
Full Story

TechTogether Chicago to Redefine the Hacker Stereotype

July 10, 2021
New workshops that can help inspire students to pursue careers in technology..
Full Story

Aerospace Engineering Launches Virtual Summer Camps to Pique Students’ Interest in Aero.

July 2, 2021
Design an aircraft then watch it soar after launching it with a huge rubber band. Build a Mars lander to safely transport a real egg, then test the contraption by dropping it from a second story window.
Full Story

Undergrads Experience Materials Science Research Courtesy of the I-MRSEC REU

June 16, 2021
Ten undergraduate students are spending the summer of 2021 discovering what research is like.
Full Story

MatSE Afterschool Academy

MatSE Afterschool Academy

June 14, 2021
MatSE Afterschool Academy to Introduce Students to Materials Science and Beyond.
Full Story

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

June 14, 2021
Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest While Researching Task Collaboration.
Full Story

Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS

What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like?

May 25, 2021
NSBE’s Michaela Horn Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS, and What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like.
Full Story

Jenny Saves a Convertible.

Children’s-Book-Writing Duo/

May 19, 2021
Convertibles and Thunderstorms—Children’s-Book-Writing Duo on Their Way Thanks to Illinois Training and Encouragement from Mentors.
Full Story

Improve Learning in Engineering

Improve Learning in Engineering

May 17, 2021
Liebenberg Espouses Mini-Projects to Engage Students Emotionally, Improve Learning in Engineering.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

BIOE435 Capstone Projects

May 12, 2021
BIOE435 Capstone Projects - BIOE Seniors Use Knowledge/Skills to Problem Solve.
Full Story

Elani and Gonzalo shine a UV light on a rose that has absorbed a solution that has made it fluorescent.

Illinois Scientists Shine a (UV) Light on Fluorescence

May 7, 2021
What is fluorescence? What causes it?
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

HackIllinois 2021 “Rekindled Connections” With The Tech Community

May 5, 2021
Annual student hackathon HackIllinois with the aim of developing projects on current problems facing society.
Full Story

A Shane Mayer-Gawlik image of the Bridger Aurora, part of his Night Skies photography collection exhibited at the Art-Science Festival.

The Art-Science Festival

April 26, 2021
Illinois Art-Science Festival: Illuminating the Universe...from the Quantum World to the Cosmos.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World

April 22, 2021
Ready. Set. Go! Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World.
Full Story

HML 2021 Virtual Health

HML 2021 Virtual Health

April 19, 2021
Make-a-Thon Gives Citizen Scientists a Shot at Making Their Health-Related Innovations a Reality.
Full Story

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

April 7, 2021
I-MRSEC’s Music Video for EOH ’21 Plugs Graphene, 2D Materials
Full Story

Health Make-a-Thon Orientation

HML 2021 Health Orientation

March 30, 2021
HML 2021 Health Make-a-Thon Orientation Prepares Finalists for Competition.
Full Story

Andrea Perry shows Franklin students how to take apart the magnetic drawing board they received in their kit

Musical Magnetism

March 25, 2021
Musical Magnetism: Encouraging Franklin Middle Schoolers to Express Science Via the Arts.
Full Story

Carmen Paquette street performing.

Love of Science

March 9, 2021
Paquette Conveys Her Love of Science, Dance to Franklin STEAM Students Via Musical Magnetism.
Full Stroy

An Engineering Exploration participant exhibits the tower they built as part of the engineering challenge related to Civil Engineering

Engineering Exploration

March 2, 2021
SWE’s Engineering Exploration Outreach Lives Up to Its Name.

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

February 23, 2021
Helps Chicago Youngsters Progress Along the STEM Pipeline Toward Engineering.

Kathny Walsh

Kathy Walsh

February 17, 2021
On Her First Foray into STEAM, Kathy Walsh Acquaints Franklin Students with Microscopy, Haiku.

ChiS&E student

ChiS&E CPS Students

January 19, 2021
Illinois Undergrads Encourage ChiS&E CPS Students Toward Possible Careers in Engineering.

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

CISTEME365 Provides Year-Round PD/Community

January 4, 2021
to Illinois Teachers in Support of Informal STEM Education Efforts to Underserved Students.