A few seconds after Hamilton College professors mixed the ingredients in the plastic garbage can for a simulated volcanic eruption, red-tinted water shot upward and outward. Students from W. A. Wettel Elementary School in Vernon laughed and applauded the scene.
It didn’t take long Friday for the volcano to erupt.
A few seconds after Hamilton College staff mixed the ingredients together, red-tinted water shot upward and outward as students from W. A. Wettel Elementary School in Vernon laughed and applauded.
The simulated volcanic eruption was part of a day of science and learning for the students.
“The idea is to get them excited about science and to try to get their attention,” said David Bailey, associate professor of geosciences, who helped with the demonstration.
Prior to the demonstration outside the science building, students broke up into groups and received various science lessons from psychology, chemistry, biology and geology professors.
Chemistry professor Karen Brewer showed students how different chemicals work together.
During one of her experiments, she took a dollar bill and set it on fire without burning it.
“Cool,” the crowd of kids said.
“Can we do that at home?” asked 11-year-old Samantha Prendergast.
Brewer said it wasn’t a good idea to do that experiment at home. She emphasized the importance of enjoying science.
“It’s just that science is fun,” she said. “There’s a lot of diversity in the kinds of sciences.”