(Posted April 4, 2016)

See Physics Phun Night at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 7, in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center.
See Physics Phun Night at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 7, in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Local high school students will get a chance to see a principal find out about a few painful scientific principles, as Deborah Luffy, principal of Huntingdon Area High School, will lie on a bed of nails at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 7, in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center, as part of Physics Phun Night.

The event is free and open to the public.

Physics Phun Night's highlight has always been the demonstration showing how the distribution of force over a wide area can lessen the effects of the force. Luffy will demonstrate this principle by allowing James Borgardt, professor of physics, to break a cement block balanced atop her body, with a sledgehammer as she lies on the bed of nails.

Sponsorship of Physics Phun Night, sponsored by the Society of Physics Students, a student club which received Outstanding ChapterAward for the 17th straight year, combines entertainment and education for fellow Juniata students and community members.

Other demonstrations will include:
Bowling Ball Pendulum: A Bowling ball is used to demonstrate conservation of energy.

Methane Bubbles: Students ignite flaming balls of methane gas.

Mouse Trap Chain Reaction: shows how students can simulate nuclear reaction using mousetraps loaded with ping pong balls.

Reuben Tube: The demonstration shows visible sound waves in tube using protruding gas fire.

Vortex Cannon: Physics students use scientific principles to shoot table tennis balls out of a tube.

The Bernoulli Effect & Fun with Toilet Paper: Using household items to demonstrate pressure and flow.
Lycopodium Powder: This demonstration illustrates how diffuse powder can ignite.

In all, the students will demonstrate more than a dozen concepts in an entertaining and informative presentation.

The Juniata chapter has more than 20 active members for the 2013-2014 academic year. The student leaders for Juniata's SPS chapter are as follows: Mary Elizabeth Petrie, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa., is president; Alex Debrecht, a senior from Winston-Salem, N.C., is vice president; Bradley Spayd, a senior from Altoona, Pa., is treasurer; is treasurer; and T.J. Hershey, a junior from Willow Street, Pa., is secretary

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.