Rock music helps explain science

PUPILS from a Warrington High School were among young people finding out how the sound of the rock guitar can help them to understand the mysteries of the universe.
Pupils from Cardinal Newman RC High School went to the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Daresbury Laboratory to hear acoustics expert and FameLab award winner Dr Mark Lewney.
He explained the physics of rock guitar at a special “Superstrings Theory” workshop.
Dr Lewney said “Using rock riffs from classical composers such as Vivaldi to rock legends like AC/DC, I show how the string vibrations form the basis of huge amounts of physics, even allowing an introduction to String Theory, an as-yet purely mathematical theory that seeks to explain the fundamentals of the universe.
“Knowing how strings work really allows you to appreciate music, or any vibration at all, with both your head and your heart.”
Dr Lewney explained the physics of vibrations with the help of props such as an air-bazooka, a bullwhip and his custom Ibanez electric guitar through a Marshall amp, turned up loud, with live demonstrations of expert rock guitar playing throughout.
Then Dr Lewney showed how the vibrations of guitar strings might be applied to the particles every human being is made of.
One pupil said: “It was great fun and much more noisy and exciting than a normal school physics lesson. I really learned a lot. Physics is important because it can help us to find out the answers to big scientific questions and understand more about how the universe works.”
Head of science at Cardinal Newman school Chris Jones said: “The lectures at Daresbury are always very stimulating and are a fantastic way of encouraging pupils to participate in science based activities. They provide an out of classroom experience that develops a keen interest and motivates them to consider science as a career.”
Pictured: Dr Lewney with pupils from Cardinal Newman High School.