Ever boil water in a paper cup? The power of fire and flames is harnessed to explain how heat can move around in:
Science Theater Episode 19: Thermal Conduction
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Thermal Conduction - Episode 19
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 12/19/2006 10:42:00 AM 4 comments
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Buoyancy - Episode 18
Why do you feel "lighter" when you are floating around in a tub of water? What does that have to do with bringing home balloons in your car? Find out the answers in:
Science Theater Episode 18: Buoyancy
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 11/21/2006 04:28:00 AM 1 comments
Monday, November 13, 2006
Can't see the videos?
If you are having problems viewing the videos, be sure to have the newest version of Quicktime installed. The videos are all in the MPEG4 format, which should be viewable with the freely available Quicktime player.
Thanks for watching!
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 11/13/2006 09:38:00 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Bernoulli Effect - Episode 17
Want the fastest way to redecorate a tree using toilet paper? Use Science! Specifically, use the Bernoulli Effect - one of the principles involved in helping airplanes fly!
Science Theater Episode 17: The Bernoulli Effect
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 11/02/2006 03:27:00 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Circular Motion - Episode 16
What do merry-go-rounds have to do with artificial gravity? Lean about the science of spinning when Dr. Carlson talks about circular motion and the centripetal force.
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 10/11/2006 05:48:00 PM 7 comments
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Fun with a Vacuum - Episode 15
If you have an empty jar, is it really empty? Take all the air out of it and you have a vacuum. When the pressure drops due to a vacuum, everything begins to behave in strange ways. Watch and see!
Science Theater Episode 15: Fun with a Vacuum
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 9/27/2006 12:45:00 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Inertia, Newton's First Law - Episode 14
If you want to move it, you have to push it! Things don't change their movement on their own, and scientists often call this the Law of Inertia. Watch as Dr. Carlson shows off an amazing series of demonstrations where things don't move!
Science Theater Episode 14: Inertia - Newton's 1st Law
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 9/12/2006 04:00:00 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The Return of Density - Episode 13
Some things float in water and others sink, but can the same thing both float and sink? Better yet, Dr. Carlson demonstrates water that sinks in water.
Science Theater Episode 13: Density Changes
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 8/30/2006 06:51:00 AM 2 comments
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Density - Episode 12
Long-time viewers realize that Dr. Carlson is dense. In this episode, dignity is again laid on the line as we find out exactly how dense is... Dr. Carlson.
Science Theater Episode 12: Density
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 8/15/2006 11:34:00 PM 6 comments
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Thermodynamics and Temperature - Episode 11
Is nothing as thrilling as watching ice melt? Why do metals feel cold, while wood feels warm to the touch? All this and more in...
Science Theater Episode 11: Thermodynamics and Temperature
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 8/01/2006 01:47:00 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Welcome to 2006 AAPT visitors
I recently travelled to Syracuse, NY to present a short paper on podcasting science content at the AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers).
For those who attended my talk (and any other curious folks), you may download the powerpoint file, which contains all the links necessary to set up your own (free) podcast...
Thanks for visiting, feel free to browse past videos or subscribe (to the RSS feed through iTunes or some other reader) to be alterted to future ones!
-Dr. Matt J. Carlson
Here is the powerpoint of my talk: 2006_AAPT_Podcasting_Summary.ppt
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 7/26/2006 09:59:00 AM 0 comments
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Concentration and Reaction Rates - Episode 10
Making Elephant Toothpaste is as simple as mixing two chemicals - causing an explosion of foamy science goodness. We take a look at two reactions with hydrogen peroxide to see how the concentration of H2O2 affects the rate of the reaction.
Science Theater Episode 10: Chemical Reaction Rates
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 7/22/2006 11:56:00 PM 2 comments
Friday, July 07, 2006
Newton's Third Law - Episode 9
How can a rocket engine lift itself off the ground? Push a wall and you will be pushed back. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that every force has an equal force applied in the opposite direction. If air, trapped in a fire extinguisher, is "thrown" backwards by releasing it, Dr. Carlson can be pushed forward by the blast - his very own jet-car!
Science Theater Episode 9: Equal and Opposite Force
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 7/07/2006 02:44:00 PM 1 comments
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Special Edition - Orange Crush Chemistry
Who doesn't like a student pep rally? See the amazing blue colors turn orange! Marvel at the amazing orange colors turning blue! In this film, recently recovered from the archive, we see how science can have just as much orange and blue school spirit as the next subject!
Science Theater Special Edition: Orange Crush Spirit Chemistry
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 5/27/2006 11:50:00 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Packing Peanuts - Episode 8
The mystery of styrofoam packing peanuts is revealed in this shocking episode demonstrating.... hmm, well it demonstrates cool stuff. After all, if you can't dissolve packing peanuts when you feel like it, what's the point of science anyway?
Science Theater Episode 8: Packing Peanuts
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 4/26/2006 09:45:00 PM 2 comments
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Free Fall - Episode 7
What does it feel like to float in outer space? How do satellites orbit the Earth? These mysteries, and more, are explained in this short video about gravity, orbits, and free fall.
Science Theater Episode 7: Free Fall
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 4/16/2006 12:45:00 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Freezing by Boiling - Episode 6
It seems unnatural, but the laws of physics don't lie. Liquids require heat to boil, and if the conditions are right one liquid can be boiled in order to freeze a second. Under a vacuum, the water in an acetone/water mixure can freeze while the acetone boils.
Science Theater Episode 6: Freezing by Boiling
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 3/22/2006 12:45:00 AM 5 comments
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Temperature - Episode 5
Hot stuff and cold science explain temperature and its affect on chemical reactions. Crowd-pleasing lightsticks make their return in this episode focusing on temperature.
Science Theater Episode 5: Temperature
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 2/22/2006 05:12:00 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Air Pressure - Episode 4
Can-crushing, balloon-inflating, juice-box-drinking action in this study of air pressure: how it happens, what it is, and why.
Science Theater Episode 4: Air Pressure
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 1/31/2006 07:04:00 PM 1 comments
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Protein Folding - Episode 3
Eggs turn white when fried because their protiens are unfolded by the heat. Much of your body is made of large molecules called proteins that can perform chemical reactions. Proteins are like long strands of pearls that can fold up into balls in order to their job. Changes in the environment (like heat) can change whether proteins fold.
Science Theater Episode 3: Protein Folding
*As an aside, my PhD thesis research focused on this very topic.
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 1/14/2006 10:47:00 AM 0 comments
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Photons of Light - Episode 2
LEDs and photosensitive paper show light be a particle in this demonstration explaining how light comes in little "packets" that we call photons. Colored LEDs make phosphorescent paper glow only if their color (frequency) of light is high enough in energy.
Science Theater Episode 002: Photons of Light
Posted by Dr. Matt J. Carlson on 1/05/2006 08:53:00 PM 0 comments