The world we live in is never still. Things spin, roll, flow and grow. They have velocity and momentum. They are large and small, living and not living.

With the underlying theme of motion as a defining aspect of life, matter, and the universe, "Move It! Science in Action" will explore science that is encountered and observed in our daily lives. The first-floor, Jonsson Gallery exhibition hall will have sturdy hands-on exhibits providing family and school-class visitors with a variety of opportunities for questioning, investigating, problem solving, and discovering.

The illustrations below are concept-drawings mostly prepared by Gyroscope Inc.

Funds are still being sought for all exhibits and at opening several of the exhibits will be prototypes awaiting funding for the final versions. Donations at all levels are encouraged. Call Explorit for donation or naming opportunity information.

Bikes and Bike Riders (Funded by Kaiser Permanente) Two bikes, one recumbent and the other hand powered, are fitted up to show relationships between human and mechanical performance during bicycle riding. Visitors check their heartbeat breathing rate, and other vital signs before and after their efforts on the bikes.
Air Flow Even though our exhibit does not look quite like this drawing visitors will investigate how the behavior of objects placed in the stream of air depends upon size, shape and surface as a result of aerodynamics (air resistance, friction, drag.)
Moving Gears A completely open ended activity in which visitors arrange sets of gears to work together to translate effort (work) into motion. This exhibit encourages initiative and creativity in the construction of a physical system that produces a visitor-planned end result.
The Spin Table This open ended exhibit has two modes; in one the central disc rotates and visitors can investigate rolling and spinning objects on a rotating surface; in the other the disc is stationary and some skillful and generous volunteers have been making finger-tops for this. Might you help with this?.
Friction Ramp (on left) Test Track (on right) These very open ended activities allow visitors to arrange the ramps to discover how the shape affects the movement of objects along the ramp and also the influence of friction on the sliding or rolling objects.
Sound Tubes (Funded by Cebra Family) Tubes of several lengths beginning and ending in the same place enable visitors to experience the delay in receiving sound that travels through the longest tube. The farther distance a sound wave must travel, the longer it takes to reach its destination
Zoetrope Visitors can use prepared image strips to experience the principle of persistence of vision in the perception of motion pictures or they can design their own movies with their own drawings or three dimensional objects.
Falling Objects This exhibit provides opportunities for investigating the role of form, mass and gravity in the motion of falling and bouncing. Regular and irregular objects can be hauled to the top of the column and released. Plant forms can be used such as winged sycamore seeds. Visitors can make tiny parachtes.

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Other exhibits to come - funding permitting:
Animation Station Visitors will be encouraged to manipulate objects in a series of poses and experiment with video recording to produce different and often times surprising results and illusions. Visitors will have the opportunity to conduct their own experiments but will also be challenged to create videos based on pre-set challenge cards..
Video Motion Through a dial-controlled video kiosk, visitors observe video clips of things in motion and are able to change the speed and direction at which the footage is played. Footage of many everyday life experiences, including images that are specific to Davis, will be included in the video selection. This exhibit will present motion that is difficult to show in the other exhibits, in particular biological motion.
Oscylinderscope This is an interactive artwork/exhibit created by Norman Tuck. Visitors pluck the strings and see string vibrations, observe how the tightness of the string affects the pitch of the sound, and visualize sound as a wave. Wave concepts such as frequency (sound pitch) and amplitude (loudness) can be examined

For information about funding needs
please contact Development Director Allison Cagley at 530-756-0191 or email allison@explorit.org

Explorit's goal is to spark a lasting curiosity and interest in science. We believe the most effective way to do this is to involve people in direct, hands-on experiences with science that relates directly to their lives, Since Explorit's beginning, we have refined a distinctive approach of hands-on and minds-on, informal and accessible inquiry, relevant and interdisciplinary topics and activities complementing formal education.

Science touches every aspect of our daily lives -- from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the computers we use to communicate. Yet public understanding about science continues to plummet at a time when citizens are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions about critical issues affecting our communities and our nation.

In response to the alarming state of science education in California. The National Science Board wrote, "No nation can afford to tolerate what prevails in American schooling; generally low expectations and low performance in mathematics and science. If we do not arm our children with appropriate tools, we fail them" (www. summitscience.org)

What do Explorit's programs encourage besides a familiarity and interest in science? ... curiousity, observation, formulation of questions, educated guessing of explanations, testing of guessed explanations, manipulation of testing conditions, introduction of variables, analysis of data, coming to conclusions