Pitching Cage

A radar detector measures the speed of a thrown ball, demonstrating Doppler effect as a means of measuring speed.

 

Flow Motion

A large circular container is provided with small reflective flakes suspended in a liquid. When the container is rotated, light reflected from the flakes makes flow patterns visible. This exhibit demonstrates fluid dynamics by creating very interesting patterns.

 

Bicycle Gyroscope

With a simple bicycle wheel and a rotating platform, this exhibit deals with the physics of rotation and angular momentum. Most visitors enjoy the experience of unusual "sideways" forces resulting from turning the spinning wheel.

 

Whisper Dish

Whispered sound waves usually spread out and cannot be heard by others, even a few feet away. Here, a large dish focuses the sound, and allows a whisper to be heard across the room.

 

Muscle Coordination

Muscle coordination required to peddle a bike is second nature to most people. But this exhibit shows just how complicated this activity is. With a series of buttons, a mechanical model is activated by the visitor to extend, flex, and coordinate muscle groups in the model's legs

 

Trace the Star

An activity with mirrors, this exhibit demonstrates that hand-eye coordination is learned, not automatic. You may be surprised as you watch your own hand!

 

Bottled Lightning

A globe filled with "lightning" shows some of the behavior of electricity and conductivity. Also, with help from a staff person, you can connect yourself to a fluorescent light bulb and watch it glow. Streamers of electrical current are guided with the fingertips.

 

Mirage

This exhibit requires two people and demonstrates the physics of reflectance. A special mirror is available which reflects some light like an ordinary mirror, but also allows some light to travel through the mirror to the other side.

 

Bernoulli Ball

A stream of air magically supports a large ball in mid-air. The forces on the ball are similar to the forces causing curves in baseball and tennis, demonstrating the relationship of gravity to the forces of moving air.

Science Through Stamps

Here you can browse through six volumes of science-related postage stamps organized by category, including topics on zoology, botany, technology and geology.

 

Aquaria

Here visitors can observe a variety of aquariums supporting fish from local lakes, turtles in their natural habitat and several displays of tropical fish. The inhabitants change from time-to-time depending on season and availability of specimens.

 

The Sound of Music

Music is not only art, but mathematics and physics as well.  An interactive computer program demonstrates that mathematics and physics are the basis of sound, instrument design and music composition. Here, using a computer, a visitor can relate music to the study of pitch, timbre and harmonic series by listening to musical instruments from around the world.

 

Roll-a-Ball

With a spinning disc and 2 rubber balls, a visitor can explore the dynamics of motion. How does the ball travel when the rotating disc moves underneath? The answers you discover through experimentation are related to motion on the surface of our spinning Earth

 

Wigwam (Wiigwasii or Wiigwamm in Ojibwe language)

Enter and explore a full-scale, authentic Ojibwe birch bark lodge, made from native materials and constructed by a Native American on the exhibit floor. Materials used are birch bark, ironwood, spruce root and basswood.

 

Pipes Of Pan

Experiment with sound waves and their relation to pitch, using the sounds generated by Center activities in a series of long plastic tubes. You can also make your own sounds and hear the notes of a musical scale - even play a tune, if you can.

 

X-Rays

Objects viewed as x-rays take on unique and sometimes beautiful designs. Here you can see actual x-rays of parts of the human anatomy, snakes, fish, snails and a variety of other objects. Did you ever wonder what an x-ray of a snake would look like after he had eaten a mouse?

 

White Pine Cross-Section

A 150 year-old white pine tree was cut down and a section of its trunk preserved and treated to show the annual growth rings from the day of germination in the year 1800 to the day it was cut down. Observe how the tree grew fast during some periods of its life and much slower in others (why?). Look for fire scars, indicating it survived a forest fire.

Echo Tube

Here is some fun with sound.  An 80-foot long tube is suspended above the exhibit floor. Talk into the tube and see what happens!  Try some other things, such as clapping or whistling into the tube. You may be surprised. 

 

K'nex

Called the inventor's workshop, the K'nex table offers free rein with your imagination and skills for constructing things with this popular system.

 

Kinetic Sculpture

Sixteen balls and a variety of simple machines, including levers, screws, and inclined planes  demonstrate energy associated with motion.  A press of the button sets the exhibit in motion for three minutes.

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