The Doppler Effect - Episode 27

When cars go screeching by your ear, their pitch changes due to the Doppler Effect. See and hear the Doppler Effect explained before your very eyes! Learn how the Doppler Effect even helps astronomers look at stars.

Science Theater Episode 27:Doppler Effect

Also, check out our new home page at: www.ScienceTheater.net!

Waves - Episode 26

Waves of light, waves of sound, waves of water, waves of fire. Wait, waves of FIRE? Check out the three main categories of waves, and try to guess where waves of fire fit into the mix...

Science Theater Episode 26: Waves

Interview with a Scientist - Erica Carlson

What does a condensed matter physicist study? Floating magnets for one. In our second interview segment, Dr. Carlson meets Professor Carlson to discuss her research. Prof. Erica Carlson discusses her research on one-dimensional electron gasses (and how it applies to superconductivity!)

Science Theater Interview 03: Erica Carlson

Electricity - Episode 25

Electrons and protons are tiny, but they can move large objects! Watch several demonstrations showing the power and behavior of electrons, electricity, and their response to electromagnetic waves.

Science Theater Episode 25: Electricity

Angular Momentum - Episode 24

Ice skaters spin faster by hugging themselves tight, but what does that have to do with riding a bicycle? In both cases, the law of conservation of angular momentum is in effect. Watch a few more angular momentum examples!

Science Theater Episode 24: Angular Momentum

Eddy Currents - Episode 23

Sure, Spiderman can stop a block of falling metal, but so can science! Find out how magnets force electrons to move around in little circles, which can cause a falling piece of metal to slow down and nearly stop. Magnetic brakes on your roller-coaster, anyone?

Science Theater Episode 23: Eddy Currents

Interview Special Part 2 - Daniela Bortoletto

Prof. Bortoletto gives us a tour of her lab where they construct tiny chips used in particle accelerators to detect high energy particles. You've heard the theory, now see the hardware!

Science Theater Interview 02: Daniela Bortoletto (part 2)

Special! - Interview with a Scientist - Daniela Bortoletto

Tune in to hear an interview with a real, live high energy physicist! In the first of an occasional series, Dr. Carlson sits down with an actual Physics professor to discuss her research. This week, we meet Prof. Daniela Bortoletto and discuss her search for heavy particles (including the Higgs particle and heavy Quarks).

Science Theater Interview 01: Daniela Bortoletto (part 1)

Shoot the Monkey - Episode 22

Dr. Carlson shoots a monkey in this classic demonstration of two dimensional motion. If you want to hit an object that is about to be dropped, do you aim above, at, or below it? The answer is a few short minutes away.

Science Theater Episode 22: Shoot the Monkey

(No animals were harmed in the making of this film...)

Motion in Two Dimensions - Episode 21

If you can drop it, you can throw it. Dr. Carlson throws stuff around to show how projectiles fall. (Also known as 2-dimensional motion)

Science Theater Episode 21: Motion in Two Dimensions

Pendulums - Episode 20

Dr. Carlson faces down fear and speeding bowling balls in an effort to demonstrate his faith in Physics and Pendulums.

Science Theater Episode 20: Pendulums

Thermal Conduction - Episode 19

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

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

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!

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

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.

Science Theater Episode 16: Circular Motion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Welcome

Welcome to this Blog. It is intended to be used to propagate my biweekly science tidbits entitled:

Dr. Carlson's Science Theater

If you're curious, I am a High School Chemistry and Physics teacher in the Lafayette, IN area. The "Dr" in my title is not a medical doctor, but I did receive a Ph.D. in Computational Biochemistry at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

I hope you enjoy the videos and maybe even learn something in the process!

Episode 1 - Mixing Light

Liquid light can be mixed to create pure white light. In the premiere episode, "lightstick juice" is used to demonstrate how red, green, and blue light can be mixed to create white light. All it takes is a few colored light sticks, a knife, and a paper towel...

Episode 1