High-energy show aims to get kids stuck on physics

What could make the basic laws of physics easier to remember than catchy hip-hop lyrics and seeing a middle-school math teacher get "applesauced"? Perhaps only the giant Velcro wall students flung themselves onto to demonstrate the law of inertia.

The "FMA Live!" show, which came to Donelson Middle School on Monday, brought science to life with a high-energy, 45-minute musical performance meant to inspire kids to pursue science, technology, engineering and math with fresh enthusiasm.

The show covered Newton's three laws of motion. Each law was explained with a song followed by interactive experiments starring students and teachers, who had a chance to sumo wrestle each other, all in the name of science.

"There's a shortage in the interest of these fields, but we've reached over 350,000 students in over 900 middle schools," said John James, one of the three musical performers.

Students put Newton's third law — that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction — into motion as they threw apples at a target and eventually "applesauced" their math teacher.

"It was exciting and fun," said Cardarius Roriex, 14, an eighth-grade student who aspires to be a computer engineer. "I liked the introduction songs, and they made it really fun with the games."

NASA and Honeywell created "FMA Live!," named after Newton's second law (force equals mass times acceleration), in 2004. The cast will also perform at Wright Middle School on Wednesday and do a show for 10 schools at Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro on Friday.

Alex Beecher is with Seigenthaler News Service-MTSU. Reach her at doniomaria992@gmail.com.