What makes a good scientist? You have to be organized and methodological like Annabella, one of two students who are sent to an old, dusty lab for one more chance to pass their exams. But is that enough? Not at all, it seems. Phil's willingness to explore, think creatively and test boundaries is just as important in their quest to devise a presentation that explains all nine forms of energy in five minutes. Ironically, much is made of the fact that Annabella is Scottish and Phil is English. Does this amount to unexpected support from the Science Museum's The Energy Show that was recently on tour in the UK for the 'better together' side in the campaign for Scottish Independence?
To demonstrate the likes of chemical, electrical and kinetic energy, methane bubbles are set on fire, hydrogen balloons explode and static electricity has a hair-raising effect on the silent, robotic lab assistant called Bernard. Virtual lab assistant i-nstein's batteries are recharged with the help of a bicycle so that he can continue with his cartoon-style scientific commentary that provides background information on the different forms of energy. But the most important form of energy is of course 'The Force' and Luke Skywalker and Darth Vadar — aka Phil and Annabella — fight it out with plasma-ball-charged (fluorescent tube) light sabres.
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