The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zany science show offers fun way to learn

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Professor Gazoontite’s science was zany, fun and chock-full of interesting facts. The professor, also known as Tim Falter, performed his show at Zephyrhills City Hall on July 17. His appearance, made possible by the Friends of the  Zephyrhills Public Library, was tied into the theme of “A Universe of Stories.” The free show featured experiments and entertaining ways for the crowd to get involved.

Tim Falter, also known as Professor Gazoontite, right, and volunteer 6-year-old Audney LaPoint, of Zephyrhills, perform a balloon experiment that demonstrates how the potential air in the balloon changes into kinetic energy (the energy of motion) when the air in the balloon is released. (Christine Holtzman)
In an experiment that simulates the space shuttle re-entering the atmosphere, volunteer Leslie Nowicki, of Zephyrhills, left, uses a blow torch to heat one side of a thermal block. Professor Gazoontite holds 9-year-old Kiley Weitzel’s hand to the block, to show that the extreme temperature in the front does not affect the back, replicating the protection that the space shuttle tiles provide to the astronauts.
In a propulsion experiment, Professor Gazoontite, portrayed by Tim Falter of Plant City, right, uses a bicycle pump to inflate approximately 70 psi of air into a recycled soda bottle. The bottle will shoot like a rocket along the safety line after the cord, being held by volunteer 7-year-old Ella Van Holten, of Wesley Chapel, is released. Ella’s mother, Natalie, is seen holding the tower.

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