Experiment with Objects in Motion! Raceways Exhibit Opens February 17 at Minnesota Children's Museum

Download Experiment with Objects in Motion! Raceways Exhibit Opens February 17 at Minnesota Children's Museum

For Immediate Release
December 18, 2006

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Loop, roll and spin into the world of physics as Minnesota Children's Museum introduces a variety of fun and challenging activities when the temporary exhibit, Raceways opens. Visitors will understand such mysteries as why people don't fall out of a rollercoaster when riding upside down in the loop-the-loop at this hands-on exhibit. Raceways will be at Minnesota Children's Museum February 17 through May 23, 2007.

Exhibit Features:
Through several interactive stations children will learn physics skills through hands-on experimentation. Many of the fun games are modeled after century-old experiments created by Galileo and Newton.

• The Spiral
  Explore acceleration and gravity by launching a ball down a twirling track. Watch as the ball travels faster and faster and the loops become shorter and shorter.
• Ski Jump
  Experiment with speed, momentum and gravity. Release two balls on different ramps - one that steeply declines and inclines like a ski jump and one that steadily declines. How many balls can you get traveling at the same time?
• Roller Coaster
  Climb to the top of the "Roller Coaster" track and explore speed, energy, friction and momentum as you send balls down a rolling adventure.
• Motion in a Dish
  Send balls spiraling at "Motion in a Dish." Place a ball on a ramp and watch as momentum, friction and gravity launch the ball into a spiral.
• Hit The Bucket
  Hit a moving target with a ball and experiment with speed and motion as the ball goes down the track and lands in the bucket. Discover what happens when you release the ball from a different point on the track.
• Big U
  Send a ball down a 'U' shaped track and see if the ball reaches the other end of the track. Learn how friction and energy keep the ball from climbing back to the same height on the opposite side.

Produced by Minnesota Children's Museum, Raceways is adapted from designs created by The Children's Museum, Boston, with support from the National Science Foundation.

Editor’s Note: For more information and photos, contact Samantha Moy at 651-225-6015 or smoy@mcm.org.

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