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Explorit Science Center Weekly Column
This page contains the material submitted to the local paper - The Davis Enterprise - for Explorit Science Center's news column published in
that paper on Fridays.
Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: January 6, 2006 Author: Pamela Emery NEW EXHIBITION CATCHES ON Technologies are ever-changing. No doubt, millions of teens and adults are listening to music stored on portable music devices that fit right into their pockets, while others are snapping digital photos with their multiple-use cellular phones. When it comes down to it, however, these new devices utilize the same physics concepts of light and sound that have been studied by scientists for centuries. Through March 12, Explorit Science Center visitors will have the opportunity to discover and explore the properties of light and sound in the current exhibition "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound." As always, visitors will be encouraged to conduct some experiments of their own. This exhibition has some fun experiments and activities that will stimulate thought and excitement in all ages. Tabatha Bruce, one of Explorit's exhibit designers, identified one of the unique exhibits. "The Tibetan singing bowls are incredibly fascinating," she said. It takes coordination to move the wooden mallet around the outside edge of the bowl, which contains water. The pitch of the sound is dependent on the size of the bowl, the thickness of the metal, and the volume of liquid each bowl contains. "You can actually see the vibrations of the waves transfer to the water," she added. Visitors conduct their experiments on metal mixing bowls. An actual Tibetan bowl is on display. The oscilloscope is another instrument that encourages thought and investigation. Visitors can check out their vocal sound waves and observe wave differences between high and low pitches and loud and soft volumes. One visitor last week shared her operatic singing voice with those in the museum. Bruce commented on how nice it was to see a person so comfortable at Explorit that she was willing to have those around her learn some science utilizing her trained voice. Little visitors enjoy making their own kind of music, which is enjoyable and refreshing in a different way. Tambourines and homemade whistles fill the air as the science of sound is explored in so many fascinating ways. Light waves are studied too; through the use of key-chain lasers, infrared light and other light sources. "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" is sponsored by Intel, Monsanto Fund and Northrop Grumman. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" runs through Mar. 12. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191. |