Mad Science

Yesterday, I took Madeleine to a Mad Science show at one of our town elementary schools.  The show was a part of Park and Rec's weekly Children's Theater, so not only were parents with children present, but kids in the various town camps attended with their counselors.  This made for a somewhat loud and rambunctious audience, although Madeleine diligently and eagerly raised her hand every time she wanted to answer a question, rather than shouting out.  I could literally see the earnest fervor with which she raised her hand, stretching her body to its limits. 

She raised her hand for pretty much EVERY question and volunteer opportunity, and luckily was called on twice.  The first time she was called on, she had an answer that I hadn't even considered, and I was amazed by her understanding of scientific properties.  The scientist had been trying to get an egg to fit into a bottle, and asked the crowd for ideas on how to make this seemingly impossible feat happen. 

SCIENTIST: Yes, in the blue shirt?
MADELEINE: (looking down at her shirt and then pointing at herself in disbelief)
SCIENTIST: Yes, you.
MADELEINE: Maybe use the torch?
SCIENTIST: Go on, say more about that.  Use the torch to do what?
MADELEINE: Like, to make a fire inside the bottle.


Okay.  The torch wasn't even out with the other supplies at the moment.  The scientist had used it in a previous presentation of "magic" paper, coated so that when lit on fire it would immediately dissolve into air.  How Madeleine knew to use fire in the bottle in order to make the egg fit was a mystery to me, but it turned out to be the right answer.  Rather than type it all out here, if anyone is interested enough to know more, you can read about this "trick" here: https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/egg-in-bottle-project/)


Well.  My kid is a smart one.  At least that's what I was thinking until she got called on to answer another question.  This one was about what would happen when dry ice was placed on a metal spoon.  Dry ice, we learned at the show, is solid carbon dioxide, and is -109 degrees Farenheit.

SCIENTIST: What do you think might happen when I place this piece of dry ice on the spoon?
MADELEINE: (raising her hand in desperate eagerness)
SCIENTIST: Yes, in the blue shirt?
MADELEINE: (looking down at her shirt and then pointing at herself in disbelief)
SCIENTIST: Yes, you.
MADELEINE: Maybe it will melt the spoon?

Okay.  I'm no scientist, but I'm *pretty* sure that substances at -109 degrees aren't capable of actually MELTING objects, let alone melting spoons at room temperature.

Needless to say, this was not the correct answer.

After the show was over, Madeleine explained her answer.

MADELEINE: Well, I didn't really know, so that's why I was like, "maaaaybe it will melt the spoon???"

Hey, I give her props for the courage of wagering a hypothesis.  She thoroughly enjoyed the science show, regardless of the rowdy kids amongst us, and I won't be surprised if she's putting on a Science Show of her own for me within the next few days!