The Physics IQ Test

The assembled throngs vote on the outcomes of "brain-teaser" type physics questions that involve elementary physics but may contain some counterintuitive or unexpected result. Following each vote, the students are allowed to discuss the question among each other and a second vote is taken. The question is then answered by performing a demonstration experiment. This procedure is used to encourage students to discuss how the laws of physics are applied to real physical situations and to learn from each other. Demonstrations of this type have been used successfully in a large range of classes at the University of Maryland, and have also been used to pique the interest of pre-college students in taking physics classes.