The purpose of this contest was to explore the creativity of the students in our Physics Department, from the Bachelor and Masters degrees. Due to the diversity of study fields in our Department, there was expected different kinds of projects and ideas.
This activity was made in association with the Show da Física, a show well known in our University and region, designed to spread the beauty of physics through entertaining experiments and demonstrations in, usually, high schools and for incoming students, not only for the ones pursuing this field of study. One of our objectives with this activity was the possible integration of an experiment in their show. Therefore, some requisites were made.
The experiences should be designed to be adaptable to be made in a classroom. Also, the understanding of the physical phenomena should be such that a high schooler would understand it.
The contest was designed in three different phases. In a first phase the contestants should deliver a brief report explaining their idea (mainly, which physical phenomena were behind it), the necessary materials for its execution and the budget. Our section contributed with a budget for the construction of the experiments.
In this phase 3 students decided to participate. These were from different years of study and their ideas were from different areas.
The topics of the ideas were diverse. One from electromagnetism, where the student made a Tesla coil and tried to explain its functioning. Other from hydrodynamics, were the Bernoulli principle was put into practice. And the last from robotics, were the student crafted a small drone with movement sensors.
Even though only three people decided to participate in this contest, the Show da Física personal was really excited, since the interest of undergraduate students in their show was absent until the date.
After a time of roughly 2 months, the students had to present an experiment that explained their idea. This presentation was made public in the 2nd of May. The jury panel was composed of our president and the professors responsible for the Show da Física. In order to evaluate the dierent contestants, the judges classified the idea, explanation and execution of such idea components.
The public appearance was higher than expected, where more than 40 students appeared to support their colleagues. In the end a coffee break was made for the people involved in the activity.
We expect that some people who appeared in the presentation are interested to do their own experiment next year, so the continuation of this activity is of great importance. Also, the Show da Física was very pleased and offered motivation for future activities of the same genre. The experience of the Bernoulli principle is thought to compose one of their future presentations.
