October 17, 2005 Source: Dalhousie University:
http://www.dal.ca/news/media/2005/2005-10-17-2.html Physics fun coming to Sydney How does physics affect your life?" Chances are many of us wouldn’t know how to answer that question. But it turns out that physics is actually behind most of the modern technology we use every day. Want proof? Listen to a CD, or watch a DVD movie. Then thank Albert Einstein, the world’s most famous physicist. He came up with the physics theory that led to the invention of lasers found inside CD and DVD players, laser pointers, laser levels, and about a million other gadgets. That’s the message that organizers of a Dalhousie University physics outreach program are bringing to students and families throughout Nova Scotia this year. The Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University is touring Nova Scotia communities with the holo-tent, a free hands-on exhibit of lasers, holograms and fun physics based on Einstein’s biggest ideas. The holo-tent’s next stop is the Mayflower Mall in Sydney on Saturday, October 22. "We wanted to inspire the next generation of scientists by bringing physics out to communities, and demonstrating what physics is all about," says Kevin Hewitt, holo-tent organizer and Assistant Professor of physics at Dalhousie. "We wanted to show students that physics is a fun subject that has a lot of career opportunities, too. The best way to learn about physics is to try it, so that’s where the idea for the holo-tent came from." Inside the holo-tent, students, families and visitors can explore the inside of a laser, view high-tech holograms, and learn about some of Einstein’s ideas. Then, with the help of a physics professor and student, you can use lasers to create your own souvenir: a one-of-a-kind hologram. Best of all, every holo-tent activity is free of charge. The holo-tent is just one of many activities taking place throughout the world to celebrate the World Year of Physics 2005. This year is meant to highlight the contribution physics has made to science and technology. 2005 was chosen because it was 100 years ago that Albert Einstein, an unknown patent clerk at the time, published five papers that rewrote the laws of physics and changed our world forever. 1905 is dubbed the miracle year for these reasons. These papers spanned three distinct topics - the theory of relativity, the motion of molecules, and the photoelectric effect. "With the publication of these papers, he overturned our view of space and time, laid the foundation for the discovery of the atom and showed that it’s insufficient to describe light as purely a wave," says Kevin Hewitt. In 1916, he proposed a theory of spontaneous and stimulated emission which led to the invention of lasers (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation). Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. About Dalhousie: Dalhousie is a comprehensive, research-intensive university with more than 15,500 students. In The Scientist magazine, it was recently named one of the best non-commercial places to work as a scientific researcher outside the United States. Media inquiries, contact:
Charles Crosby
Charles.Crosby@dal.ca
Phone: (902) 494-1269
Fax: (902) 494-1472
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