Category: Science Group

Visit to Bestwood Country Park 19^th September, 2025

Water Rockets and Polystyrene Aeroplanes: A Day of Experimentation

The science group met at Bestwood Country Park for a hands-on exploration of flight and propulsion. A focus of the meeting was launching water rockets, an activity that proved both challenging and entertaining. Despite our enthusiasm and numerous attempts to launch even with the expertise of John Tedstone and John Berril we encountered a staggering 95% failure rate with water rocket launches.

They either failed to lift off or experienced technical difficulties, usually due to insufficient air pressure, this providing plenty of opportunities for laughter among the spectators.

In contrast, the session on polystyrene aeroplane flying was notably more successful. Members enjoyed constructing and testing their lightweight planes.

 Some of them soared impressively across the open spaces of the park, others experienced an early descent.

 Our efforts highlighted the unpredictable nature of scientific experimentation.  Overall, it was a memorable day, combining fun, frustration, and the thrill of discovery in a rural outdoor setting.

Our next meeting is on Friday 17^th October at JGC 10am to 11.45am

We have a presentation from group member Dr Jolanta Adamczewska who spent many years specialising in the field of lubricants.

Most of us know they are substances designed to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately minimises heat generation and wear.

We will learn that they have many other uses and there are different types both natural and synthetic.

Following the break we have an activity currently in development.

David Rose

Science – 19^th September

The plan is to reconvene at Bestwood Country Park for our indoor/outdoor meeting. We will have the use of the Dynamo House and kitchen for drinks.

Outside we will be launching rockets and aeroplanes.

Not one of these!                                   But more like this ‘water rocket’

There will also be an aeroplane making and flying competition with a prize and obviously prestige for the winner.

Thanks to Bob Gow for arranging the venue and to Margaret from the Dynamo House café kitchen for allowing us to use the facilities.

There will be an opportunity of a guided tour for anyone who has not made a visit to the unique Winding House or for anyone who wishes to have another look.

More details will be sent to all Science Group members later.

David Rose

July 18^th Meeting

This month we welcomed a visiting speaker Dr Yi Wang from The Canal and River Trust.

The theme was ‘Wildlife Around Our Canals’ and she explained that they were once busy avenues of commerce and industry and are now bustling corridors of wildlife.

Kingfishers dart low over the water, and herons stalk fish from shadowy banks. Moorhens and swans glide peacefully, while dragonflies shimmer above lily pads. Otters, once rare, are now making a quiet comeback. Reeds and towpaths hide voles, frogs, and butterflies. These tranquil waterways offer shelter, food to countless species—nature’s heartbeat flowing gently alongside human history.

After the break in preparation for our aeroplane flying and rocket launching day at Bestwood Country Park on 15th August, Ian Murray explained how planes fly. Before becoming the ‘Rockin Rev’ Ian worked for 12 years in the aerospace industry, and he managed to make a very difficult concept accessible by his explanation and illustrations.

To summarise:

Planes fly by using lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Air flows faster over the curved top of the wing, creating lower pressure above it—this generates lift. Engines provide thrust to move the plane forward, while drag resists motion. Pilots balance these forces so the plane can climb, cruise, and descend. Precision design and constant airflow turn physics into flight, keeping the aircraft soaring through our skies every day.

20^th June 2025

It was back to the Portland Room at JGC this month – initially with a few technical laptop/hardware interface issues that were soon sorted.

We had an eclectic mix of presentations from Christine Vincent for Niels Bohr, John Tedstone for The Lunartick Society and catching up with our ‘5 Minute Scientists’ David Wormall with Pythagoras, Ian Murray summarising the significant achievements of J J Thompson and finally John Woodward enthusiastically telling us about his electrical hero Michael Faraday.

However, as in much of science and technology, their achievements and pursuit of knowledge are linked through time.

According to AI in the form of Microsoft co-pilot:

The Lunartick Society, a group of freethinkers in 18th-century England, championed the pursuit of scientific knowledge and philosophical inquiry. Their spirit of curiosity would have delighted minds like Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician whose ideas about numbers and harmony laid a foundation for scientific thought.

Centuries later, Michael Faraday, largely self-taught, harnessed that same spirit to pioneer electromagnetism and revolutionise our understanding of electricity. Building on such discoveries, J.J. Thompson identified the electron, unlocking a whole new realm of subatomic science.

Then along came Niels Bohr, who dared to challenge classical physics with his quantum model of the atom, marrying theory with mystery. Together, these visionaries – though separated by time – reflect a desire to explore the unseen, from harmonies of the cosmos to the particles within. They embody the legacy of questioning minds, stretching from the Enlightenment salons of the Lunartick Society to the laboratories and lecture halls of today.

In July I have arranged a visiting speaker from The Canal and River Trust for part 1 of our meeting. The theme is ‘Wildlife of the Canals’.

We thank our June presenters and next month there will be time for more of the ‘5 Minute Scientists’

Next Meeting: Friday 18^th July JGC 10am to 11.45am

David Rose

Our May ‘meeting’ was a visit to the RAF Cosford Museum.

The museum is on a grand scale with some extremely large hangers which house aircraft through the ages from small pilot only single engine propeller craft to enormous bombers and military freight planes.

Many were fitted with Rolls Royce piston and jet engines.

I know the theory of how aircraft fly but looking at size of some of them makes me wonder.

The visit included insightful talks on the Battle of Britain and the Cold War, offering a deeper understanding of these pivotal moments in military history.

The Battle of Britain session highlighted the bravery of RAF pilots who defended Britain against relentless Luftwaffe attacks in 1940. The group explored exhibits showcasing aircraft, personal stories, and strategic decisions that shaped the outcome of the battle.

The Cold War exhibition provided a fascinating look at the tense standoff between Western and Eastern blocs. The museum’s National Cold War Exhibition features Britain’s V Force bombers, illustrating the RAF’s role in nuclear deterrence. The group also learned about the technological advancements and political strategies that defined this era.

Next Meeting – Friday 20^th June 10am – 11.45am JGC

John Tedstone will be telling us about The ‘Lunarticks’ an informal ‘learned society’ of prominent figures  including industrialists, ’natural philosophers’ and intellectuals, who met regularly between 1765 and 1813 in Birmingham.

Christine Vincent has a presentation about Danish Physicist Niels Bohr who made major contributions to atomic structure and quantum theory.

David Rose