The speed of objects, light and sound will be on display Feb. 18 during the CU Wizards show titled "Speed!!!" presented by Nobel laureate and University of Colorado at Boulder adjoint physics Professor Eric Cornell.
The free public presentation begins at 9:30 a.m. in Duane Physics room G1B30 on the CU-Boulder campus.
Cornell will measure different types of speed during an hour-long show that is intended primarily for students in grades five through nine.
Demonstrations will involve audience participation to explain the speed of light, sound and physical objects. Participants will have the opportunity to see some of the world's slowest animals, and to measure both the speed of a thrown baseball and the speed of sound through a 500-foot-long plastic tube.
Cornell also is a senior scientist and fellow with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder. In 2001, Cornell and CU-Boulder colleague Carl Wieman received the Nobel Prize in physics for creating a Bose-Einstein condensate, a new form of matter.
He enjoys making CU Wizards presentations to young audiences. "I give lots of lectures to college professors, college students and scientists, but the CU Wizards audiences are usually the toughest," Cornell said.
CU Wizards is usually held the third or fourth Saturday of each month during the academic year and focuses on astronomy, chemistry and physics. Though intended primarily for students in grades five through nine, the shows are educational and entertaining to people of all ages.
Anyone with a disability or special need should notify the CU-Boulder physics department office at (303) 492-6952 a few days prior to the show. For information about CU Wizards call (303) 492-5011 or visit .