Hands-on physics workshop for young minds

The Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) of Sungai Long Campus organised the “Colourful Wonders Physics Workshop” in conjunction with the Mathematics and Science Fair (MSF) 2024 on 21 September 2024 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to the fascinating properties of visible light, offering hands-on experiments to inspire appreciation for the science behind it through practical, real-world examples.

The workshop led by CFS academics Ms Heng Sze Lu and Ms Tan Zhen Jee, with the support of CFS Senior Lab Assistant Puan Siti Nur Hidayah binti Edie and 24 student helpers from the Foundation programme, attracted 42 children, aged six to 12.

Structured around ten captivating STEAM activities, the workshop allowed children to explore light’s many properties such as reflection, refraction, dispersion, absorption, and colour combination through both light-on and light-off settings. These activities enabled participants to see how light interacts with objects, bends through different media, and how primary light colours can be combined to form secondary colours, including white light.

As the wheels spun, the colours blended into white, demonstrating that white light is composed of all colours in the visible spectrum. This activity not only deepened their understanding of light properties but also allowed them to engage their creativity. The children proudly took home their creations as a memento.

The “Colourful Wonders Physics Workshop” achieved its goal of delivering a fun, engaging, and educational experience. The young participants showed great enthusiasm for the subject, developing a stronger grasp of light’s properties while exploring their creativity. The workshop successfully made science both enjoyable and accessible, leaving the children with a newfound appreciation for the wonders of light.