The scientific concepts of light, polarization and optics will be explained through a number of experiments, including creating a giant soap bubble, during the Feb. 15 CU Wizards show "Liquid Crystals."
University of Colorado at Boulder physics faculty members Noel Clark and Joseph Maclennan and chemistry Professor David Walba will present the show at 9:30 a.m. in Duane Physics room G1B30. The show, aimed primarily at students in grades five through nine, is free and open to the public.
During the show, the audience will have a chance to see liquid crystals in action with demonstrations of a 20-foot-high bubble and parents taking the role of liquid crystal molecules. They also will learn what it means to polarize light waves and how solid materials can change the polarization of light, while getting a quick lesson about colors.
Liquid crystals are organic materials related to soap that are in some ways solid and in some ways liquid, making them ideal for information display applications. The wizards will demonstrate the optical and electrical properties of liquid crystals and show how they are used in today's high-tech society to display information in items like laptop and desktop computers, flat-panel televisions, cell phones, calculators and watches.
Clark, Maclennan and Walba are researchers in the Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, an interdisciplinary research unit at CU-Boulder that is one of the world's leading liquid crystal research centers. The center recently was awarded a $6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
CU Wizards is usually held the third Saturday of each month during the academic year and focuses on astronomy, chemistry and physics. Though intended
primarily for students in grades five through nine, the shows are educational and entertaining to people of all ages.
The remaining 2003 CU Wizards schedule is:
March 15, 9:30 a.m., Cristol Chemistry room 140, Associate Professor Kathy Rowlen of chemistry and biochemistry, "Chemistry of Light."
April 19, 9:30 a.m., Duane Physics room G1B30, Adjoint Professor James Faller of physics, "The Physics of Music."
May 17, 9:30 a.m., Cristol Chemistry room 140, Assistant Professor Deborah Wuttke of chemistry and biochemistry, "Biochemistry for Kids."
June 14, 9:30 a.m., Fiske Planetarium, Professor Andrew Hamilton of astrophysical and planetary sciences, "Black Holes."
For more information about CU Wizards call (303) 492-4318 or visit the Web site at .