Science Demos
How do Maglev trains work? What are comets made of? How do bugs walk on water? These audio slideshows demonstrate these and other concepts related to magnetism, electricity and other areas of science.
Bubble Wall
A bubble wall illustrates the surface tension of water and the forces behind it.
(Length: 3 minutes)
How Atmospheric Pressure Affects Objects
A bell jar, Peeps and balloons demonstrate how changing the atmospheric pressure around objects can change their size.
(Length: 3 minutes, 18 seconds)
Maglev Trains
A toy train demonstrates magnetic levitation, the Meissner Effect and magnetic flux trapping.
(Length: 6 minutes, 30 seconds)
Make a Comet
How to make a model of a comet – and why models are important to scientists.
(Length: 4 minutes, 16 seconds)
Make a Compass Demonstration
Learn how to make a simple compass right at home.
(Length: 1 minute, 21 seconds)
Potato Cannon
A slideshow carbo-loaded with information on how the pneumatic potato cannon works.
(Length: 3 minutes)
Seeing Magnetic Field Lines
Compasses and special metal filings help you "see" the invisible force of magnetic fields.
(Length: 2 minutes, 25 seconds)
Shrinking Quarter Machine
A MagLab physicist and engineer pair up to demonstrate the lab's famous Quarter Shrinking Machine, a loud, stinky illustration of electrodynamics, circuits, Lenz’s Law and Lorenz forces. (Length: 7 minutes, 50 seconds)
Tesla Coils
What's behind the cool purple sparks? Neat science about resonance and transformers.
(Length: 6 minutes)