The Nature of Things: 21x1

Volcanoes / Hovercraft / Curve Balls / Windshear / Xerography

Volcanoes: A look at the geological formation and environmental impact of volcanoes, focusing on the 1980 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens in Washington. Hovercraft: New uses for air-cushioned vehicles, including the possible future use of hovercraft over muskeg terrain. Curve Balls: A demonstration of how baseball pitchers throw curve balls, and the effects which a baseball has when it spins through the air. Windshear: Richard Malcolm, a physicist specializing in aircraft safety, discusses the problems created by different types of turbulence and the recent aircraft design changes to ameliorate the problems. Xerography: A presentation of how a photocopier works.