Their circus-style educational act is full of excitement and big bangs
HOUGHTON -- They're called the Physics Force for a good reason. Their circus-style educational act is full of excitement and big bangs.
For the past 28 years, Henry Ryan and his friend Jack have traveled all over their home state of Minnesota and sometimes much further to teach students that the laws of physics can be a lot of fun.
"You usually get the response that it's only for nerds, and it’s difficult and boring,” said Ryan. “When we started this, the mission was to change the thought that young people have about physics."
More than 100 students and parents watched--some even participated--in the Physics Force show at Michigan Tech on Tuesday night.
It was the pair's first trip to Michigan and also their first performance in front of such a broad audience. Both preschoolers and college physics majors were in the crowd.
"My favorite part was all of it,” said four-year-old Riley Olson. “I liked everything in that room that I saw."
"I really liked when they shot the ping-pong ball through the pop cans,” said Tech senior Curtis Hunt. “I've heard about that demo and seen a video on it, but seeing it in person was far more impressive."
Henry and Jack are the only two of the original four members who still travel and perform. Their Physics Force act has become so popular that they've recruited three understudies for themselves and formed a second Physics Force team to help with the demanding schedule.
They said they go to one high school every year because it's believed that it raises their enrollment in physics.
The duo is making the most of their trip to the Copper Country. In addition to the public show, they're performing for students in Hancock, Houghton and L’Anse throughout the week.
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