About this season
A light-hearted exploration of maths and science, presented by Johnny Ball.
Episodes (6)
1. Episode 1
Aired 12 April 1978 • 30 min
Johnny Ball, with the help of a studio audience, will show some mind-stretching models, blistering ballistics, lightning calculations and some shocking ways to store your energy - and let it go.
2. Episode 2
Aired 19 April 1978 • 30 min
This week Johnny discovers why hands are so handy, how to make sense of your senses, automate an automaton and how bionic a bionic man can be. Meanwhile - Think of a Number - How many times can you take 3 from 24 ?
3. Materials
Aired 26 April 1978 • 30 min
This week Johnny looks at family trees, works out how to get rid of a boomerang, puts nylon in an endless spin and turns a fossil back into a dinosaur with the aid of an element that never forgets. Meanwhile - Think of a Number - a half is a third of it - what's the number ?
4. Water
Aired 3 May 1978 • 30 min
Lots of giggles and quite a few gurgles as Johnny explores water from H to O. Meanwhile - Think of a Number. At a quick guess, which set of numbers has the larger total ?
5. The Shape of Wealth
Aired 10 May 1978 • 30 min
This week Johnny discovers some dicey things about dice and a number over a thousand miles long; also something heavy about gold and cutting about diamonds. Meanwhile - Think of a Number. By using two minus and one plus signs make this all add up! 123456789 = 10
6. Episode 6
Aired 17 May 1978 • 30 min
This time Johnny considers why the Earth is in a flat spin; talks about what makes tocks tick and how to gain on the swings and roundabouts. So meanwhile - Think of a Number - Divide 50 by a half and add three. What's the answer ?