By MC1 Lewis Hunsaker

Dr. Kevin Smith, Chair of NPS' Department of Physics, uses a bicycle wheel to demonstrate conservation of angular momentum to students during a mini Discovery Day in Spanagel Hall, March 11.

"We used to allow the entire community to come on base however we haven't been able to do this event for a long time, so today we are calling this a mini Discovery Day to show students various demonstrations."

Throughout the day, students from Monterey High School's Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science and Pacific Grove's Robert Down Elementary School received demonstrations of science in action – basic mechanics, gravity, electricity and magnetism, optics and the behavior of light, the anechoic chamber and much more.

"The main thing we are trying to show the students today is the joy of being involved in science," said Smith. "Hopefully this event peaks their interest in science and technology. We really enjoy events like today because fundamentally this is why we starting doing it ourselves. It's fun to do science."

"The students have been very engaged in the various topics," added Monterey High School Teacher Patricia Ramirez. "At school, we teach students about science, technology and mathematics in our curriculum, and today, hopefully, they saw the classes they take come into fruition."