Explorit enters new era with first long-term exhibit

Today is a big day at Explorit. The center opens its first long-term exhibit, “Move It! Science in Action,” in the Jonsson Family Gallery at the museum’s main facility, 2801 Second St.

“This is a very exciting addition to Explorit,” says Anna Grace, exhibit coordinator. “Motion is part of everyday life, and ‘Move It!’ will explore the movement in the world around us. The exhibition will be very open-ended and exploratory, and will offer fun activities for all ages.”

Here are some examples of its hands-on activities:

• Ride a bike on a virtual tour through Davis. You can also choose the Mirror Ride, in which a skeleton riding on the screen represents your body on the bike. Add some head wind and some weight from your grocery bags and see what happens.

• Experiment with friction by using different materials on a ramp. Test various objects and watch how friction affects speed and distance traveled.

• Race solar cars on an outdoor track and watch as the sun’s thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy that moves the cars.

• Investigate how the movement of air is effected by the shape and size of the object. Test your hypothesis using a horizontal wind tunnel, and then retest in a vertical wind tube.

• Watch what happens as you roll a ball onto a rotating table. Try using balls of different materials.

• Check out a top and test it on the spin table. Use a stopwatch and time the spin, then compare this to other times.

“This exhibit represents four years of work by dozens of volunteers and community members,” Grace says. “It should appeal to people of all ages and interests, because motion is something we can all relate to.”

Sponsors of the exhibition include Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman Corp. and Anne Hance.

“Move It” is expected to be in place for about three years. Meanwhile, Explorit’s Gumerlock Gallery, on the second floor, will house a series of Changing Exhibitions. Currently on display is “Go With the Flow ... From Delta to Sea.”

“The new exhibit is really cool,” says Karen Adams, communications coordinator. “With its completion, families will find it’s easy to spend several hours here, immersed in hands-on science. We’ve come a long way from our beginnings in 1982.”
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On Saturday, Explorit will host a Family Exploration program called “Marvelous Machines.” Visitors can learn about simple machines and how to combine them to make complex machines. Activities will demonstrate the importance of the lever, pulley, inclined plane, gear, wheel and axle, and screw. This event will be held from 1-4 pm at Explorit’s main facility, and is free with paid admission to the museum. Please note: "Segway Day," previous publicized as happening on Saturday, has been postponed. A new date will be announced soon.
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Mark your calendar for Explorit’s next Science Café on Tuesday, March 18. Davis inventor Paul Moller will give a talk titled “Flying Cars and the Future of Travel.” The evening will begin at 7:30 p.m. with coffee, cookies and informal conversation, then continue with Moller’s talk. One of Moller’s Skycars will be on hand for viewing at the event. To accommodate a crowd, the free event will take place at Explorit’s neighbor in east Davis, the Davis Musical Theatre Company, 607 Pena Drive.
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Explorit Science Center has two exhibitions on display: “Move It! Science in Action” and “Go With The Flow…From Delta To Sea.” Admission is $4 general, free for teachers and ages 3 and under. The museum is open to school groups by reservation and to the general public from 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Explorit is at 2801 Second Street, Davis. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or www.explorit.org.