Norse Physics Tour de Force


The Norse Physics Tour de Force is a traveling physics demonstration show that has been performed for over 6000 elementary and middle school students in northern Kentucky since 2005.  The show is made up of physics demonstrations (1) that demonstrate physics principles contained in the Kentucky program of studies in order to augment students' science education and (2) that are entertaining in order to get students interested in science.
The bed-of-nails: which professor pictured has tenure?

A demonstration involving the Tesla coil.

Demonstrations typically presented include

Angular momentum with a bicycle wheel gyroscope
Electricity & Magnetism with a Van de Graaff generator, a Tesla Coil, and an electromagnet
Changes of state and materials properties with liquid nitrogen
Balanced forces with the bed-of-nails
Sound with the beaker breaking sound chamber

Arrangements for shows usually are initiated by Betty Stephens, the outreach coordinator at CINSAM.  Please direct your inquiries to her:

Office: Founder’s Hall, 509
Phone: 859-572-1308
Email: stephensb@nku.edu


A demonstration with liquid nitrogen.


A student captured this image of a beaker breaking
in response to a loud sound.

Show participants:

Matthew Zacate and Scott Nutter: Department of Physics & Geology
Lenore Kinne: Department of Teacher Education.
Eric Rowley and Thomas Brackman: CINSAM



This program has been supported through funding from the American Physical Society, World Year of Physics 2005 Program and from CINSAM outreach grants 2005-O1 and 2006-O1.

Special thanks to the Department of Chemistry for providing liquid nitrogen.


Home Page of Matthew Zacate
Department of Physics and Geology
Northern Kentucky University


Page last updated in August of 2009. 
Material on this page does not necessarily reflect the views of the acknowledged funding agencies and of Northern Kentucky University (disclaimer).  Indeed, if something is found to be controversial, it may not necessarily reflect the views of the author.  Copyright (C) 2009 Matthew O. Zacate.