Science City helps set record

by Richard Dawes

Windsor parents and children of all ages are hoping they’ve set a Guinness World Record for the largest practical science lesson at multiple locations.

The event started Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. simultaneously across Canada and demonstrated the Bernoulli Effect using string, balloons, cups, water and air. Coordinated by the Government of Canada’s science department, emails were sent to schools and science centres encouraging their participation. The Canada South Science City location had 32 participants.

The Bernoulli Effect is named after a Swiss scientist, Daniel Bernoulli, who studied the basic properties of fluid flow, pressure, density and velocity. He discovered when air is flowing faster, the air pressure is lower. This effect was duplicated by blowing air between two balloons suspended on string.

Heading the experiment in Windsor was the president of the Board for Canada South Science City Bill Baylis. Baylis directed the participants through two experiments demonstrating the effect before asking them to do it on their own.

“I think everybody would expect them to blow apart but instead they came together, they kissed each other. And that was the surprise,” said Baylis.

The second experiment was based on the same principles as an atomizer or a perfume sprayer. Participants cut a straw in half and placed one half vertically along the inside wall of a cup partially submerged in water. Air was then blown through the second straw across the top of the first one resulting in water being drawn up the vertical straw and sprayed through the air.

“When people do things, they learn it. If they’re just talking about it in class they’ll learn a bit but forget fast. Plus it’s a lot more fun to actually try it,” said Baylis.

Windsor West MP Brian Masse participated in the experiments alongside children and parents. Masse heard about the record setting attempt from Baylis and came to observe but ended up taking part because he said it looked like fun. Masse also said what Science City does for the community is important.

“We can’t take it for granted. A lot of school groups come through here and it takes a lot of volunteer work so if you’re able to contribute to not-for-profit groups by volunteering or financially, it’s critical to our quality of life,” said Masse.

Talmadge Gilbert, mother of two, attended the mid-day event with one of her daughters  whom she home schools. Gilbert said hands-on learning is important for development and this was a “normal homeschool experience” for her children.

“Quite often we’ll go to different exhibits such as Point Pelee, other science centres, Children’s safety Village or Jack Minor’s. We’ll take any learning opportunity,” said Gilbert.

A video recording of the experiment along with the notepads participants used to write their observations were sent to Guinness for validation. Baylis estimated that nearly 10,000 people across Canada would participate in the record breaking attempt.