The aim of the competition is to demonstrate to a non-scientist an application or fundamental principle of Physics/ Astronomy using only items that can be found in a typical home (the reference to a paperclip emphasises the lack of sophisticated apparatus)

Can you communicate physics to a non-scientist?

Build a physics/ astronomy demonstration from items found around the home?

1.       In some way Comenius and the M.E.T.E.R. must be highlighted!

2.       Each team has no more than five pupils.

3.       Presentations must not take more than five minutes.

4.       Role play and constructed models may be used in the presentation. Text and diagrams may also be used to assist the presentation. Text and diagrams must be confined to not more than four sheets of A3 paper or card.

5.       The audience for each presentation will include three judges (a non-scientist, a teacher and a physicist).

6.       The judges’ assessments will be based upon:

a.       how well a non-scientist understands the demonstration

b.       the ingenuity of the constructed demonstrations

c.        the clarity and style of the presentations whether visual, verbal or both.

d.       how well the team answers the judges’ questions at the end of the presentation

e.        Points will be lost if the judges consider that:

i)                     any parts of the equipment are such as could not be found in a typical home

ii)                   if there is over reliance on drama

iii)                  a demonstration is in any way unsafe

iv)                 if presentations take more than five minutes

Prizes will be awarded to the members of the three teams giving the best three presentations.

remember that the presentation is aimed at the non-scientist judge – he/ she must be convinced by your explanation; what’s more he/ she must understand it correctly – the other judge will try to make sure of this! Professor Stephen Hawking claims that every equation he puts into a book halves the number of readers! In spite of this, it is OK to use simple equations but you must explain them carefully to the non-scientist.

at the same time the physics must be correct!

use your ingenuity in thinking of ways to demonstrate your ideas using items from the home. In past competitions all sort of props have been used. We have seen shower curtains, flour, plastic guttering, rolling pins, office chairs, slinky springs, christmas tree lights, cling film and tea bags and many other apparently disconnected items woven into excellent demonstrations. Of course, you cannot go home to get items, but you may be surprised what we have available here at school. We are collectors of junk!

as an example, in a previous paperclip competition presentation ‘how stars are born and what processes act during a star’s life’ were brought to life using hula hoops, giant ropes, specially designed hats and costumes. The team acted out the roles of Miss Gravity and Miss Strong Force who struggle against the forces of physics to bring together two charges in the process that keeps stars like our Sun alive.

safety is a very important consideration. Discuss with your teacher any aspects of your demonstration of which you are unsure.

the judges are allowed 5 minutes to ask questions. Try to anticipate what they might be. Try out your presentation on someone else who has never seen it before and get them to ask questions.

practise your presentation and make sure it fits into the five minutes allowed – no longer and not too much less. There are penalty marks for going over time.

make sure that everyone in the team is involved in the presentation itself, not just there because they drew the poster or made the demonstration.

avoid reading your notes – if you think you might forget what you want to say jot down a few key words on a card and refer to it if you need to. Nobody minds the occasional pause or ‘fluff’. It is important to seem natural.

try to look at the audience as you talk – not just the judges but all the other spectators.

if you have put information on a poster, use it during your talk rather than just leaving it there. If you have used an equation put it on the poster (with all the symbols explained) and talk about it during your presentation.

humour and drama are fine but too much of either can detract from your presentation.

smile and look as though you are enjoying yourself – you probably will be!

Deduct one mark each for any of the following:

Comenius and M.E.T.E.R. are not mentioned in some way

presentation takes over 5 minutes or is too short

all members of a team do not make a significant contribution to the oral presentation

text and diagrams are not confined to 4 sheets of A3 paper or less

any text/ diagrams displayed are not referred to in the presentation