Jefferson Lab is hosting two free, public lectures on consecutive evenings in June. The Monday, June 18, presentation highlights the genius and scientific discoveries of Benjamin Franklin. By establishing that lightning is electrical and that electricity involves charge, Franklin’s research opened the way for many new discoveries. Fred Dylla, Executive Director and CEO of the American Institute of Physics and former Jefferson Lab associate director, discusses how Franklin helped light the way to countless modern applications, from cathode-ray and photomultiplier tubes, to large systems for electrical power distribution, to the continuing evolution of particle accelerators.
The next night, Tuesday, June 19, Bryon Anderson, author and professor of physics at Kent State University, discusses the physics of sailing, including the hull speed limit, frictional forces, Bernoulli's principle applied to both the keel and the sails, and vortex generation from the keel and sails. He will explain the advantages of sailing upwind or downwind with different sail configurations and advances made in hull, keel, and sail designs made possible by an improved understanding of the underlying physics.
Each presentation begins at 8 p.m. in Jefferson Lab’s CEBAF Center auditorium, located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, Va. The programs are free and open to anyone interested in learning more about science; they each last about one hour and include a question and answer period at the end. For security purposes, enter at Jefferson Lab’s main entrance (Onnes Dr.). Everyone over 16 is asked to carry a photo ID. Security guards may perform ID, backpack, purse and vehicle checks. Call 757-269-5102 for more information.