Flying Circus of Physics soars to success

Thu, Apr 17, 2025

Florida State University’s Department of Physics hosted its Circus of Physics on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The event, which occurs every two years, highlights for a public audience the impact physics has on everyday life as well as the wide array of research conducted by FSU scientists. Open-house-style programming at the event includes shows in the Pat Thomas Planetarium, hands-on experiments, live research presentations by FSU scientists, guided laboratory tours and more.

The Circus of Physics, hosted every two years by FSU's Department of Physics, encourages local students K-12 curiosity through hands-on activities designed to highlight physics principles in everyday life. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Jeremy Kowkabany (pictured) is a doctoral student studying astrophysics. This year's Circus of Physics attendees had the opportunity to see cool demonstrations with cryogens, getting as cold as -320 F, in the FSU Condensed Matter Laboratories. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Physics doctoral student Mehak Ghafoor (left) and professor of physics Vladimir Dobrosavljevic (right) prepare for Physics Phlyer, the ultimate paper airplane contest. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Physics doctoral students Mehak Ghafoor (left) and Ahmad Raza (right) set up this year's Circus of Physics' paper airplane contest and are just a few of the many undergraduate and graduate students who helped make the event a success. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Undergraduates (from left to right) Anjali Mital, Sofia Jolley, and Nolan Scales manned several laboratory demonstrations — including that of a Mendocino motor — and are just a few of the many undergraduate and graduate students who helped make this year's Circus of Physics a success. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
The Circus of Physics, hosted every two years by FSU's Department of Physics, encourages local students K-12 curiosity through hands-on activities designed to highlight physics principles in everyday life. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
The Circus of Physics, hosted every two years by FSU's Department of Physics, encourages local students K-12 curiosity through hands-on activities designed to highlight physics principles in everyday life. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Circus of Physics attendees had the opportunity to take guided tours of the John D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory and recreate the nuclear reactions that occur at the heart of stars. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Attendees at the 2025 Circus of Physics had the chance to meet Phoebe the Physics Dog, the beloved companion of teaching laboratory specialist Mark Cartagine and official spokesdog of FSU's Department of Physics. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
The Society of Physics Students is a professional student association, encouraging and assisting those interested in physics. SPS also facilitates professional development among students and promotes public interest in physics. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
The Circus of Physics, hosted every two years by FSU's Department of Physics, encourages local students K-12 curiosity through hands-on activities designed to highlight physics principles in everyday life. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Physics doctoral student Haoyang Liu (pictured) demonstrates and discusses the continued research that increasingly optimizes the lightbulbs that illuminate our lives. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Charles Carpenter (middle) is the director of Science-on-the-Move program, which brings the resources needed to conduct high-tech physical science lessons directly to regional K-12 classrooms, and co-director of the Young Scholars Program, a six-week residential summer program for 40 of Florida’s highest-performing high school students with significant potential for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
Attendees of this year's Circus of Physics participated in the Physics Phlyer, the ultimate paper airplane contest. Photo by Kendall Cooper.
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