The Ashfield Music Festival Project: Bringing Physics to Life!
To celebrate Physics Week, Year 10 students dive into the physics behind music festivals.
Just before the Easter break, 60 Year 10 students engaged in a unique off-timetable activity, dissecting the physics that underpins the dynamic environment of music festivals. This exploration provided insights into the practical applications science and illuminated exciting potential career pathways for those with a physics background.
Students explored the captivating optical physics behind festival visuals, dissecting the science of light manipulation that creates stunning laser shows and projections. The intricacies of sound system design were also under the spotlight. Students investigated the physics of sound waves, including a peak into some physics A-level content like superposition and interference, to grasp how sound engineers strategically deploy speakers and employ techniques to minimize unwanted sound clashes across festival grounds.
In a practical application of materials science, students created and tested composite materials made of pasta, glue, paper, and string. Inspired by the innovative designs of modern stage structures, they combined different materials to engineer samples with enhanced strength.This hands-on activity mirrored the advanced material science crucial for constructing safe and efficient festival infrastructure. They also experimented with the structure of stages – creating models from newspapers which were able to withstand large forces (some even the weight of a person!)
The sheer scale of music festivals also provided a compelling context for understanding the vital role of project management. Students considered the multifaceted aspects of planning and executing such large events, including resource allocation, logistical coordination, and risk mitigation. They guided their teams through the activities and supported them with their strong physics knowledge and problem solving skills. This highlighted the essential role of structured management in bringing complex scientific and engineering endeavours to life.
We were delighted to welcome back Dr Lota (former BHGS chemistry teacher) who kindly contributed his time to enrich students’ knowledge as a materials science expert, and Mrs Keay (former BHGS Science Technician) who shed light on the exciting world of health and safety and the high stakes problem solving that comes with it.
Through these interconnected explorations, students gained a comprehensive insight into the fundamental physics that underpins the magic of music festivals. From the dazzling light displays to the powerful sound systems and the robust infrastructure, the day revealed the profound impact of scientific principles in creating these large-scale cultural events. This interdisciplinary approach not only reinforced their physics knowledge but also illuminated the diverse and exciting ways science and technology intersect with the world around them. A huge congratulations to all involved!
Miss Blanchard
