The Physics Show

Physics made accessible, fun and even a little sexy!
Members of the Foothill College Physics Department perform a one-​hour show that takes kids and their parents through a series of physics experiments based on electricity, temperature and pressure.
My 6-​year-​old gave this show two-​thumbs up! She was amazed to see what happened to balloons when they are cooled by liquid nitrogen then allowed to warm to room temperature again. (The same experiment had quite a different outcome when performed using a banana instead of balloons.) She also demanded that we immediately recreate the initial electricity experiment the minute we got home — rubbing balloons against our heads and sticking them to the wall.
While the entire show was engaging, the two most spectacular experiments involved pressure. One had physics instructor David Marasco sandwiched between two beds of nails while colleague Frank Cascarano held the ability to end the Marasco lineage while taking a sledge hammer to a cylinder block strategically placed on the top bed. The final experiment sent tennis balls immersed in water with a weighted bottle full of liquid nitrogen flying into the air a geyser-​like fashion. If he doesn’t already, Marasco will no doubt wind up with a fan following if this show really takes off. The guy allowed himself to be shocked (literally) and then stuffed himself into a metal suit from which he acted as a conductor for another experiment with electricity before becoming the meat center of the nail bed sandwich. I’m convinced there isn’t much he won’t do in the name of science show business.
This brilliant show has loads of humor (who knew physicists were so funny!) and more than achieves its expressed purpose of getting kids interested in science. The entire cast oozes enthusiasm for what they’re doing.
Admission is free but parking at Foothill College is $ 2. Reservations are recommended. To find out when the next show takes place and reserve your seats, e-​mail Frank Cascarano at
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NOTE: If you have a child under 5 in your brood, use your best judgement in determining whether to have them attend the show. My 3 ½ year old could not have cared less about this activity. But, the three-​year-​old who sat in front of us attentively watched every experiment from her mother’s lap. To each his or her own!