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The Science of the Circus!

Bello Nock races up a thin wire while riding a motorcycle, with the crowd roaring below. He drives the motorcycle high over thousands of people's heads. He is a clown with the circus.

Bello's stunt looks dangerous – and it is. But Bello knows a secret, a fact that many people in the crowd don't know. He knows that he is using science to help keep himself safe. Bello uses the first law of motion when he performs. The first law of motion says that a moving object will keep moving unless an outside force stops it. Bello uses this law when he rides his motorcycle.

As Bello speeds along on his motorcycle, he sometimes has to stop before slamming into a wall. To stop, Bello uses the motorcycle's brakes. The brakes create friction between the motorcycle tires and the ground. The friction is an outside force that slows the motorcycle.

The friction changes the movement from the motorcycle into heat energy. You can do an experiment to demonstrate friction as heat energy. When you rub your hands together, they should start to feel warm. This is friction at work! Friction between your hands changes into heat energy.

Bello always puts on a high-energy show that inspires the audience. "I always want to capture the attention of children," he said. He captures their attention with science.

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