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Date: March 10, 2006
Author: Jonathan Bell

THE FINAL WAVE OF 'CATCH A WAVE'
Popular sound and light exhibit ends Sunday

"Its been a very popular exhibit," explained one of Explorit's exhibit designers, Tabatha Bruce. She is referring to "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound," which ends Sunday.

"This exhibit helps you dissect two topics we're very familiar with day to day - light and sound. The different activities give visitors a bite sized way to learn about these two challenging topics," Bruce added.

"During the first week the exhibition was open we had a woman visit who clearly had some vocal training. While using the oscilloscope she sang through a number of scales. It was very intriguing to watch how the sound waves changed," Bruce explained while discussing one of the more popular activities where guests have the chance to use an oscilloscope. An oscilloscope is a device with a microphone attached that converts sound into a real-time, moving wave.

Visitors to the exhibition will also be surprised to find tubes meandering across the ceiling, from one side of the hall to the other. These communication tubes trap sound waves inside and allow a visitor on one side of the room to speak with a visitor on the other side of the room, as if standing next to one another. 

The impromptu musical parades that often take place provide guests a chance to play music together. The different 'make and play' instruments allow them to create something that produces sound. Although not traditional instruments, these creations make some amazing and amusing sounds.

If not investigating the many aspects of sound guests might instead learn more about the properties of light. Within the museum a darkened space allows free exploration of white light and lasers. Visitors will be encouraged to investigate how light can be bounced, bent and spread out as it is passes through lenses and prisms.

Visitors can also explore fluorescence using a UV light for experimentation. Fluorescence is a process where a molecule absorbs a high-energy photon (packet of light) and releases a lower-energy photon in the form of visible light. This release of a low-energy photon causes the object to glow. This is the reason fluorescent lights work. Visitors will be surprised to find the many natural and man-made objects that will glow when placed in the presence of a UV light.

Another activity will allow visitors to explore how light is being used in the forefront of medical technology by using some biophotonic devices. Biophotonics is the study of how light interacts with living tissue. Guests will be able to take their temperature, measure the oxygen content of their blood and their pulse rate using devices that use only light. 

"The students really loved this exhibit," explained Bethany Dengler-Germain, one of Explorit's education specialists. "They really enjoyed experimenting with lasers and making sound waves in many fun new ways."

"Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" is sponsored by Intel, the Monsanto Fund and Northrop Grumman.

Visit Explorit this weekend for one last opportunity to see the sound waves from your voice, experiment with singing bowls or create hidden images in hand-drawn pictures.
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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" ends March 12. Explorit's exhibition hall will be closed March 13-17 and will reopen with the new exhibition "What an Animal! Fins and Feathers and Other Creature Features" on March 18. 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.