22^nd October, 2007

“Experimenting is so much fun”

Hamburg/Cologne (dpa) – Joachim Hecker is an expert in trying things out – or more complicatedly put: an expert in experiments. For years he has been doing the WDR 5 programme “Hecker's Hexenkueche – Experiments for Children on the Radio”. He regularly travels around Germany with his two special suitcases and experiments together with children. Furthermore, he writes books – like his current book “Das Haus der kleinen Forscher” (House of the Little Explorers). He explains what he himself likes to try out for the dpa News for Kids.

How do you know all these great experiments?

Joachim Hecker: “I always keep my eyes open. If something catches my attention, I keep it in mind and turn it into an experiment. Annoying the parents with an inflated, screeching balloon is terribly funny for my daughter. And at the same time, an incredible amount of science comes into play.”

And what exactly is scientific about that?

Joachim Hecker: “If air streams through the narrow opening at the mouth of the balloon, the top and bottom begin to swing. The vibration becomes quicker and the screeching higher when the mouth is wider and thus more tightly stretched. The reason is: If air streams through a narrow place, it accelerates. That way, a suction is created which causes the mouth of the balloon to swing.”

Which one is your favourite experiment?

Joachim Hecker: “Definitely the cornflour suspension! A wonderful way of messing about and a complete surprise, too. In order to make it, you mix cornflour with a bit of water. You then experience that the suspension can be liquid, but also quite solid at times. The reason is that it only likes slow movements and not quick ones. You can find videos of people running across a pool filled with cornflour suspension on the internet. This only works if they run really fast.”

What do you want to give children to take with them?

Joachim Hecker: “Experimenting is so much fun. And science is even more fun. You don't have to be afraid of exploring; just try it out for yourself.”

Interview: Kerstin Schmidtfrerick, dpa