There have been a couple of e-mails to the list about custard/flour
explosions. If anyone is interested I recently came across an article
'Explosions' by Framley Steelcroft which was published in Strand Magazine
(1897) Vol. 13 p 498-506 in which there is a description and photopgraph of
the results of a flour-dust explosion (July 9th 1872) at the Tradeston Flour
and Grain Mills in Glasgow.
Anyone who would like a copy of the text and a copy of the photograph (not
high quality!) should contact me off-list at [log in to unmask]
Regards,
Paul Beaumont
Science and Plants for Schools
Homerton College, Cambridge CB2 2PH
Tel 01223 507168; e-mail [log in to unmask]
Web www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Simmons
Sent: 08 June 2005 00:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Alchemy experiments
I tend to refer to that one as "The Custard Explosion"
If you truly want to get the feel of alchemy, you need to do an experiment
that last 6 months, has to be done at obscure times of the night, involves
copious amounts of sulphur and mercury, much heating, casting of horoscopes,
praying and self-mortification, guided by incomprehensible instructions and
producing ambiguous and baffling results, then get handed a bag of
mysterious powder by a man in black with a shrouded face in your garden in
the middle of the night (well, it worked for Robert Boyle!)
IAN SIMMONS
Complete the following sentence: That carbon-based living organism over
there perched on a tree branch has a beak, so it must be a) a weasel, b) a
big magnetic robot, c) a bird.
Science Centre - www.techniquest.org
Forteana - www.forteantimes.com
Sound Reviews and Science Writing www.nthposition.com
> 3. Powder explosions using custard powder, cornflour or similar.
> Spectacular, ecxiting, guaranteed to make you an instant hero among the
> under 12s, and quite surprising. Most people don't expect to be able to
get
> a four foot plume of flame out of a tablespoon of custard powder.
>
> If you choose to do 3, don't call it 'exploding custard', though. This
term
> is a trademark owned by my friend Ian Russell, who has been doing science
> shows under this name, and including the eponymous demonstration, for the
> last 15 years or so.
> > as interactive as possible for the children by carrying out some
> > experiments.
> >
> > Does anyone have any suggestions for simple experiments? I have had a
look
> > on the internet but am looking for experiments that don't need the
presence
> > of a fume hood, bunsen burner or complicated equipement as I am going to
be
> > giving the talk in a museum lecture theatre.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Katherine
> >
> > PS The other topics I am suppose to be covering are:
> > - illusions
> > - magnetism/levitation
> > - mechanics of flight
> > - magical creatures
> > - herbal remedies
> > I already have some simple hands on experiments and talks for most of
these
> > subjects but any other suggestions would be great.
> >
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