You'll find all the error bars currently planned by the social convenors here.

Date: End of Semester

In this evening, we borrow the physics lecture theatre and watch good - yet laughable on the physics - movies.
The prime examples we have had so far were The Core and Back to the Future, but others are around as well. What will it be this time?

Below are the promotional information boxes about error bars already held this year, so if you're feeling nostalgic or just want to see what you missed out on, they're all here.

Date: March 14th

A celebration is being held in honour of the constant pi.
$2 entry with free food and events, such as a competition to see who knows the most digits of pi.
Why is it on the 14th of March? Well, because it's 3-14 in the American dating pattern.

Date: April 11th

An opportunity to make lots of noise and show off your coordination, and to find out about the mathematics behind the ancient activity of bell ringing.
You'll be hearing some of the theory behind the activity, as well as getting the chance to demonstrate what you've learned (or to show that you weren't paying attention :P).

Date: May 2nd

Prepare to have your knowledge of trivial (and some not so trivial) facts stretched, as you attempt to answer questions ranging from the ridiculously easy to the painfully hard.
Selecting question sets from a pool of options, you'll have fun trying to answer some of the questions.
Prizes will be awarded, so sharpen your skills.

Date: May 9th

"An experimental confirmation of a previous classification of audible transverse waves", or, "Can we experimentally prove that Bach and the industrial Revolution KILLED music?"

The next Error Bar, to be presented as part of the PAIN Physics Society's acclaimed series of Error Bars, is to conclude business unfinished from last year, pertaining to the PHYSICS OF MUSIC.

Around this time yesteryear, it was determined theoretically that Bach did not KILL music, and that the Industrial Revolution only MAIMED it. What did not follow, however, was experimentation to ascertain whether or not MUSIC is ALIVE AND WELL, and which TUNING SYSTEM is SUPREME...

We shall also Include all that there wasn't Time for in the previous year.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO PAIN, OR MISSED LAST YEAR'S MUSIC ERROR BAR, AND ARE VERY CONFUSED/SCARED : just smile and nod, then turn up.

Date: May 16th

Have good puzzle-solving skills? If yes, this error bar could be the one for you.
You have a chain of puzzles and clues, and your goal is to solve them in a team and make your way to the finish before another group beats you. Be warned, it could be quite challenging. Good training for exams!

Note that this error bar will be longer than normal, and sensible shoes will be needed, as there will be running around involved.

Click on the icon to see a larger image of clues from last year's hunt.

Date: May 23rd

There are some questions that shouldn't be asked. Some answers that shouldn't be given.

What really happened at Roswell? How could you seriously believe magnets cure cancer? Why are there no possums left within 500 metres of the main refec?
These questions should not be asked, and we do not. Some questions, however, require us to answer them. They demand it. So, finally, this week, we give you the answer to the most important question of all time.
That's right, ladies and gentlemen! It's the...

******************************************
What SHOULDN'T I put in my microwave?!
******************************************

...ERROR BAR! Starring a brand new, 1000 Watt microwave, we're going to investigate a number of things which shouldn't be put in a microwave. From measuring the speed of light with spaghetti to turning light bulbsinto powdered glass, we're going to be showing you what a microwave really shouldn't be used for.

We'll also clear up some of those pesky microwave myths, and talk about whether your mobile phone could cook your brain. And, of course, there will be the grand finale - creating fire balls (or ball lightning) inside the microwave!
These are literally balls of flame that fly around inside the microwave, slowly turning it into a lump of molten metal for your entertainment and pleasure!

About our presenter: Joel has been playing with microwaves for 7 years, has broken or ruined two, melted six Tupperware containers but has only suffered three audience fatalities, which he counts as a win.

See you THIS Friday 5pm, in the Tea Room! Guaranteed entertainment - if you only attend one Error Bar this year, you're a slacker andshould come more often! See you there!

J.

Date: 08/08/08

Our next Error Bar will be upon that topic which much of the world seems obsessed with at the current time, whether it be with the Presidential elections in the US, or the controversy-ridden Zimbabwe elections.

The evening will be hosted by our resident political expert Dave Barry. More information soon, and hope to see you all there!

---

Dear PAIN,

This Friday I'll be giving what is becoming an annual Error Bar of sorts, looking at elections. This year I will be talking about how you can see my individual Senate vote from last year's election, dodgy figures coming out of Zimbabwe's recent election, probably some other stuff that I talked about last year, and how French newspapers unknowingly predicted theresults of last year's French presidential election.

That French newspaper thing is, in my opinion, the most amazing result in any field ofhuman inquiry discovered during my lifetime.

So come along, Friday 5pm in the Tea Room.

David.

Date: Aug 22nd

Everyday we encounter problems in life which we are not always equipped to handle. However, as physicists, engineers, arts majors or whatever our specialty is, we are often required to develop solutions by working together in teams and to make do with the materials we have.

So come and experience the joys of problem solving and stretch your brains to the limit in a team challenge at 5pm this Friday in the Physics Tea Room as you battle it out at the infamous Butcher's Paper Error Bar! (note: the butcher's paper is *clean* and obtained from the UQ Union Bookshop, not a butcher). There will be a prize for the team with the best solution and as usual, Pizza ($1/slice) and soft drink ($1/can) will be available.

We hope to see you all there :)

Alex P, Chris S and Kristen

Date: Aug 29

I'm sure you are too well aware that when it comes to physicists, they are a little different than your average Joe. The most different of all being the astrophysicists. There is no doubt that anyone whom has taken the science of space seriously, lives life by a different set of instructions (the biggest example being yours truly and to a lesser extent a certain social convener :P). I hear you ask "what is the reason for this? why are they so different? Is it spending all the waking moments awake at night in weird buildings in isolated locations?". Well, to try and find out come along to the error bar this Friday to hear a short summary of the rather bizarre and eccentric history of the astronomer followed by a viewing on the heavens on the roof of Parnell. I invite anyone to bring along any equipment they have to aid them in star gazing (binoculars to look through, blankets and towels to lie on, torches to stop silly people from falling over etc.)

Stevo

P.S. If it is overcast this Friday evening, the astro error bar will be postponed, but rest assured there is a backup plan so whatever the weather be sure to come along.

5th September

As physicists, we're always trying to describe a system to see how things fit together. As a result, we find patterns just about everywhere. Whether you're looking at structural biology or mathematics, you can find patterns where ever you look. So, to be able to recognise a pattern when you see it, or be able to describe how you can fit small parts into a whole system can be very important.

At this week's Error Bar, we'll be looking at patterns, as well as the science of "fitting things together". Just for fun, you'll get a chance to see for yourself how good you really are when it comes to working out how to put things together in a more practical sense.

Kristen

12th September

Physics is fun,
Poems are too,
Come along this Friday,
To an Error Bar starring you!

This Friday is the Physics Poetry Error Bar!! Every person who recites a poem receives a prize. Poems are allowed to be of any style including acrostic. There is no minimum standard of poem (as evidenced by the poems above). Come along to the physics tearoom this Friday at 5pm, show us your "inner poet" and receive a prize!

Hope to see you all there!

Alex and Katy

Date: 19th Sep

Avast ye mateys,

I guess you are all wondering what pirates actually have to do with physics to which I would respond, "What *don't* pirates have to with physics?". One might point out that this doesn't actually answer the question but with pirates around, that person would probably be walking the plank.

But anyways back to the topic, this Friday, September 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and to honour this occasion I am hosting a Pirate Error Bar. I shall discuss many things about how pirates conquered the many problems they encountered in daily life such as: they navigated without GPS, the best way of walking the plank, how pirates affect global warming, whether half the stuff done in Pirates of the Carribean actually works, and much much more.

So come along this Friday at 5pm in the Physics Tea Room and learn about our pirate-y heritage. Pizza and drinks are available again at 1 gold dubloon per slice/can.

Off ye go, lad. The plank's not gettin' any longer
Sean

P.S Pirate conversion: 1 gold dubloon = AUD$1

P.P.S Pirate regalia isn't compulsary but would be really awesome if people could wear something to get into the spirit of the occasion. Remember there may be a link to global warming - so help the battle against climate change with an awesome pirate costume.

Date: 26th September

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, physicists, chemists and art students!

Physicists seek to uncover the truth behind the universe, the underlying laws, the very nature of reality. We love to know how things work! So what could be more frustrating than watching a magician apparently defy these very same laws? This week, I'm going to talk about the science and psychology behind magic and illusion, drawing on my experiences as both a magician AND a physicist!

In fact, however, magicians know the laws of physics all too well, and exploit them in unexpected ways - there's an awful lot of science in magic! But they're also masters of human psychology - how we think, what we remember; changing a single word can make or break an illusion. Even cooler, they can exploit our incredible brains in ways quite similar to an optical illusion - the brain sees what it expects to see, which might NOT be what actually happens... In fact, the same incredible brains and sophisticated senses that allow us to study physics can be our downfall - we can be fooled by tricks that a 5 year old see straight through!

I'll do some demonstrations of a variety of different magic tricks, talking about some basic principles of both magic, science, sleight of hand and psychology. I'll show some videos of magic tricks (both good and, possibly, bad) and talk about how neuroscientists are now starting to see magic tricks as a window into the deepest workings of our brain!

So come along to a special evening hosted by Dr Joel, this Friday at 5pm in the Tea Room, Building 7 Parnell. Pizza and drinks will be available for $1/slice, or less if you can produce them yourself out of thin air. Look forward to seeing you all there!

J.