Exhibits
Current Traveling Exhibits
(Swamp Things and The Ancient Carolinians)
Open Now Through January 7th
Swamp Things is an exhibit that educates the public on the swamps of the Southeastern U.S. It has over 35 live swamp animals and a few static animal displays as well.
The Ancient Carolinians
"More than 12,000 years ago before the Roanoke Colony, before ancient Rome and classical Greece, even before the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge -- the ancestors of today's American Indians came to North Carolina and thrived here."
-- Vin Steponaitis
Come view these artifacts, learn how they were used, and the science behind the archeological discovery.Permanent Collection:
Race the Wild
Instructions: Select which animal you want to race by pushing the button under its picture, then wait for the signal to go and run down the track. Content: This exhibit is designed to give kids an impression of how fast various animals are. The selections range from a turtle to a bear or a cheetah. Actual speeds plus other fun facts for each animal are noted along the runway
BioTrek
Instructions: Choose which organ in the human body you want to see, and push its appropriate button. This causes the organ to light up on the model inside, showing you where it is. Content: This exhibit is used to help children learn where their internal organs are, and what they look like. By building it into three different models instead of one, children get the opportunity to view more body features.
Instructions: Choose which organ in the human body you want to see, and push its appropriate button. This causes the organ to light up on the model inside, showing you where it is. Content: This exhibit is used to help children learn where their internal organs are, and what they look like. By building it into three different models instead of one, children get the opportunity to view more body features.
Animal Collections
Instructions: Observe the various animals in their cages, but don't touch. They might bite! Content: While static displays of nature can be fun, nothing is better for getting kids excited about biology than a live animal. Especially something they don't get to see in their back yards, like Yoshi, the Imagination Station's favorite iguana. Also included are several boas, pythons, skinks, frogs, turtles, insects, spiders, and even a handful of albino reptiles!
Instructions: Observe the various animals in their cages, but don't touch. They might bite! Content: While static displays of nature can be fun, nothing is better for getting kids excited about biology than a live animal. Especially something they don't get to see in their back yards, like Yoshi, the Imagination Station's favorite iguana. Also included are several boas, pythons, skinks, frogs, turtles, insects, spiders, and even a handful of albino reptiles!
Mega Mouth
Content: Children gain a better understanding of various teeth found within their mouths.
Content: Children gain a better understanding of various teeth found within their mouths.
Pulleys
Instructions: Pull down on the rope to lift its corresponding 100pound weight. Content: Pulleys work as a simple way to move the line that supports the weight. The real work done in a system of pulleys is from the line itself. In a system of a stationary pulley, there is no actual mechanical advantage; you still have to pull just as much as if you were to lift the weight itself. However, in a single moveable pulley system (more often seen in the form of one moving pulley and one stationary pulley), you gain a mechanical advantage of 2, meaning that there is only � the effort required to lift the weight as opposed to picking it up without help. This works because when you pull on the line with a certain amount of force, then that force is distributed throughout the line. Since in a single moveable pulley system there are two lines supporting the weight, then there are two lines pulling up with that force, doubling the force you put in to it. However, to lift the weight a certain distance, you have to pull double the amount of line out as both sides must decrease in length.
Instructions: Pull down on the rope to lift its corresponding 100pound weight. Content: Pulleys work as a simple way to move the line that supports the weight. The real work done in a system of pulleys is from the line itself. In a system of a stationary pulley, there is no actual mechanical advantage; you still have to pull just as much as if you were to lift the weight itself. However, in a single moveable pulley system (more often seen in the form of one moving pulley and one stationary pulley), you gain a mechanical advantage of 2, meaning that there is only � the effort required to lift the weight as opposed to picking it up without help. This works because when you pull on the line with a certain amount of force, then that force is distributed throughout the line. Since in a single moveable pulley system there are two lines supporting the weight, then there are two lines pulling up with that force, doubling the force you put in to it. However, to lift the weight a certain distance, you have to pull double the amount of line out as both sides must decrease in length.
Levers
Instructions: Pull down on the rope attached to the lever and try to lift the 100pound weight on the other end. Content: Levers are used to lift objects with the concept of work. Work is simply the weight multiplied by the distance it is moved. By using a longer arm on one side of the lever, it creates a longer distance to move, and therefore requires less force to lift the weight.
Instructions: Pull down on the rope attached to the lever and try to lift the 100pound weight on the other end. Content: Levers are used to lift objects with the concept of work. Work is simply the weight multiplied by the distance it is moved. By using a longer arm on one side of the lever, it creates a longer distance to move, and therefore requires less force to lift the weight.
Gyro
Instructions: Stand on the spinning platform, hold on to the handrails, and push off with your foot. Content: The Gyro demonstrates circular motion and the forces that accompany it. When an object moves in a circle, it is continuously accelerating towards the center of the circle. Due to inertia, your body feels as if it is being pushed toward the edge of the circle (not to mention making you feel nauseous). It is the same idea that explains why you feel like you are being pushed back into your seat when in a quickly accelerating car. This is due to Newton's 1st Law of Motion, which explains that objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion when there are no outside forces influencing them.
Instructions: Stand on the spinning platform, hold on to the handrails, and push off with your foot. Content: The Gyro demonstrates circular motion and the forces that accompany it. When an object moves in a circle, it is continuously accelerating towards the center of the circle. Due to inertia, your body feels as if it is being pushed toward the edge of the circle (not to mention making you feel nauseous). It is the same idea that explains why you feel like you are being pushed back into your seat when in a quickly accelerating car. This is due to Newton's 1st Law of Motion, which explains that objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion when there are no outside forces influencing them.
Scale
Instructions: Simply stand on the platform to measure your weight Content: Scales use springs to measure the force your body exerts downward when pulled by gravity. Instead of measuring the actual weight of the person, scales measure the distance that the springs are compressed. Using this and several known formulas with springs, the distance is converted into the force you body presses down on the spring (your weight).
Instructions: Simply stand on the platform to measure your weight Content: Scales use springs to measure the force your body exerts downward when pulled by gravity. Instead of measuring the actual weight of the person, scales measure the distance that the springs are compressed. Using this and several known formulas with springs, the distance is converted into the force you body presses down on the spring (your weight).
Bernoulli Blower
Instructions: Press the start button to get the fan blowing air out of the pipe, and toss the globe over it. With a little skill and a lot of luck, it should hover in the air until the fan quits. Content: This exhibit is also made to show the power of air and wind. Contrary to its name, the actual hovering of the globe is due simply to the force of the blowing air on the bottom of the globe. Bernoulli's principle comes into play only when the globe gets off center in its hover. When this happens, part of the globe leaves the stream of air and enters the still air around it. Since moving fluids (i.e. the air) have lower pressure than still fluids, the still air on the outside of the stream pushes the globe back in, centering it again.
Instructions: Press the start button to get the fan blowing air out of the pipe, and toss the globe over it. With a little skill and a lot of luck, it should hover in the air until the fan quits. Content: This exhibit is also made to show the power of air and wind. Contrary to its name, the actual hovering of the globe is due simply to the force of the blowing air on the bottom of the globe. Bernoulli's principle comes into play only when the globe gets off center in its hover. When this happens, part of the globe leaves the stream of air and enters the still air around it. Since moving fluids (i.e. the air) have lower pressure than still fluids, the still air on the outside of the stream pushes the globe back in, centering it again.
Look into Infinity
Instructions: Peek into the eyeholes cut into one side, and observe what appears to be on the other side. It should look like a tunnel. Now tilt the mirror that you are looking through to "curve" the tunnel in different directions, and observe how your movements affect it. Content: This exhibit shows how light can be manipulated, as well as how fast it moves. For instance, if light was slow enough to be seen moving, the "tunnel" image would appear as mirrors getting smaller and smaller, somewhat like a light traveling down a dark tunnel. However, as light is reflected, while traveling at a speed much faster than the human eye can detect, the image appears as an endless tunnel, as the light stays many steps ahead of our eyes.
Instructions: Peek into the eyeholes cut into one side, and observe what appears to be on the other side. It should look like a tunnel. Now tilt the mirror that you are looking through to "curve" the tunnel in different directions, and observe how your movements affect it. Content: This exhibit shows how light can be manipulated, as well as how fast it moves. For instance, if light was slow enough to be seen moving, the "tunnel" image would appear as mirrors getting smaller and smaller, somewhat like a light traveling down a dark tunnel. However, as light is reflected, while traveling at a speed much faster than the human eye can detect, the image appears as an endless tunnel, as the light stays many steps ahead of our eyes.
Kaleidoscope
Instructions: Step under one of the three walls and stand up to view yourself from all angles. Content: By standing between the three glass panes instead of looking at them from an angle, the visitor is given a view similar to that of the exhibit "Look into Infinity". The walls continually reflect themselves on each other, causing the room to seem indefinite, as well as making it appear that it contains an infinite number of images of the viewer.
Instructions: Step under one of the three walls and stand up to view yourself from all angles. Content: By standing between the three glass panes instead of looking at them from an angle, the visitor is given a view similar to that of the exhibit "Look into Infinity". The walls continually reflect themselves on each other, causing the room to seem indefinite, as well as making it appear that it contains an infinite number of images of the viewer.
Head Games
Instructions: Look into the kaleidoscope from an open end. Content: These kaleidoscopes are smaller versions of the previous exhibit. Instead of standing in these, the viewer looks into the side, which provides the classic picture of a kaleidoscope, with hexagonal patterns instead of infinite images of one object.
Instructions: Look into the kaleidoscope from an open end. Content: These kaleidoscopes are smaller versions of the previous exhibit. Instead of standing in these, the viewer looks into the side, which provides the classic picture of a kaleidoscope, with hexagonal patterns instead of infinite images of one object.
Double Vision
Instructions: Grab the rings on each side of the mirror. Then, with your head to one side of the mirror, move either ring. Content: When moving the ring, the reflection in the mirror gives your mind the image that either both hands are moving, or neither of them is. In reality only one hand is moving. This confusion between hand and eye signals causes your brain to become disoriented, and often triggers reflexes to counter what it thinks is being done wrong.
Instructions: Grab the rings on each side of the mirror. Then, with your head to one side of the mirror, move either ring. Content: When moving the ring, the reflection in the mirror gives your mind the image that either both hands are moving, or neither of them is. In reality only one hand is moving. This confusion between hand and eye signals causes your brain to become disoriented, and often triggers reflexes to counter what it thinks is being done wrong.
Paradox
Instructions: Look at the image in the mirror. Now, take the pen and try to trace the image, without touching the metal edges. This is a simple task by itself, but is made difficult by the fact that your brain sees the image and your hand movements as upside down and backwards. Content: By using handeye coordination to allow the viewer to draw the picture, this exhibit shows that when light is reflected, the reflection appears opposite of what it should be. This happens because mirrors reflect things as they are in relation to the mirror and makes things appear "backwards".
Instructions: Look at the image in the mirror. Now, take the pen and try to trace the image, without touching the metal edges. This is a simple task by itself, but is made difficult by the fact that your brain sees the image and your hand movements as upside down and backwards. Content: By using handeye coordination to allow the viewer to draw the picture, this exhibit shows that when light is reflected, the reflection appears opposite of what it should be. This happens because mirrors reflect things as they are in relation to the mirror and makes things appear "backwards".
Vertex
Instructions: Look into the three mirrors. The eye in the reflection that is closest to the center is your dominate eye. Also, place your hand near the mirrors and observe how the reflection appears. Content: Your eyes are not equal when sending information to your brain. This is because they are not in the same position, and see the world at slightly different angles. Because of this, your brain cannot simply take an image from both. Instead, it chooses a dominate eye, which views your surroundings. The recessive eye simply adds depth perception and confirmation for what your other eye sees. As a result, your brain centers the view as closely as possible in relation to the dominate eye.
Instructions: Look into the three mirrors. The eye in the reflection that is closest to the center is your dominate eye. Also, place your hand near the mirrors and observe how the reflection appears. Content: Your eyes are not equal when sending information to your brain. This is because they are not in the same position, and see the world at slightly different angles. Because of this, your brain cannot simply take an image from both. Instead, it chooses a dominate eye, which views your surroundings. The recessive eye simply adds depth perception and confirmation for what your other eye sees. As a result, your brain centers the view as closely as possible in relation to the dominate eye.
Microscope
Instructions: View the specimens through the looking glass on the microscope. If you can't see them, or if they are blurry, adjust the black knob on the front of the microscope to focus them. To change specimens, slide the strip containing them under the microscope. Content: Microscopes work by refracting light so that light waves separate as they move forward. Since the light has an infinite number of waves traveling outward, a larger image is formed as the viewing lens refracts the light toward your eye.
Instructions: View the specimens through the looking glass on the microscope. If you can't see them, or if they are blurry, adjust the black knob on the front of the microscope to focus them. To change specimens, slide the strip containing them under the microscope. Content: Microscopes work by refracting light so that light waves separate as they move forward. Since the light has an infinite number of waves traveling outward, a larger image is formed as the viewing lens refracts the light toward your eye.
Fresnel Lens
Content: Fresnel lenses are similar to normal spherical lenses. However, instead of curving outward, the lens has convex/concave surfaces that are separated to leave the lens itself flat. This causes it to appear as a normal pane of glass with a grooved surface. This shape causes light to refract differently from regular lenses, by separating the waves of light and making them parallel. To the human eye, this just makes whatever object behind the lens to appear highly distorted and discolored.
Content: Fresnel lenses are similar to normal spherical lenses. However, instead of curving outward, the lens has convex/concave surfaces that are separated to leave the lens itself flat. This causes it to appear as a normal pane of glass with a grooved surface. This shape causes light to refract differently from regular lenses, by separating the waves of light and making them parallel. To the human eye, this just makes whatever object behind the lens to appear highly distorted and discolored.
Invisible Strings
Instructions: Place your hand in between the holes in the bottom and top of the exhibit and listen to the music you make. Content: Inside the holes are infrared transmitters and receivers. When and object (your hand in this case) is placed between them, it blocks the signal. When the signal is blocked, the receivers set off a switch that sends an electrical pulse through electric wires which power the speakers. Depending on the magnitude of this pulse, which differs for each receiver, you get a different frequency sound, or a different note emitted from the speaker.
Instructions: Place your hand in between the holes in the bottom and top of the exhibit and listen to the music you make. Content: Inside the holes are infrared transmitters and receivers. When and object (your hand in this case) is placed between them, it blocks the signal. When the signal is blocked, the receivers set off a switch that sends an electrical pulse through electric wires which power the speakers. Depending on the magnitude of this pulse, which differs for each receiver, you get a different frequency sound, or a different note emitted from the speaker.
Xylophone
Instructions: Use the drumsticks to hit the wooden and metal plates covering the pipes. Content: Xylophones and other percussion instruments work by using vibrating solids to vibrate the air around them. In the case of the xylophone, the vibrating panels cause the vibrations in the air to move up and down the tube. Sound travels as waves of compression and rarefaction, meaning the air pressure rises and drops to form a wave. Once the wave reaches the end of the pipe it is traveling in, it bounces back. Xylophones are made so that each compression that bounces up hits another compression that is coming down, causing an even greater vibration. This is called harmonizing, and creates the ringing sound you here when playing the xylophone.
Instructions: Use the drumsticks to hit the wooden and metal plates covering the pipes. Content: Xylophones and other percussion instruments work by using vibrating solids to vibrate the air around them. In the case of the xylophone, the vibrating panels cause the vibrations in the air to move up and down the tube. Sound travels as waves of compression and rarefaction, meaning the air pressure rises and drops to form a wave. Once the wave reaches the end of the pipe it is traveling in, it bounces back. Xylophones are made so that each compression that bounces up hits another compression that is coming down, causing an even greater vibration. This is called harmonizing, and creates the ringing sound you here when playing the xylophone.
Human Dynamo
Instructions: Place your hands on the metal handshaped plates and observe. Content: The human body is a conductor of electricity. When your hands touched the plate, a chemical reaction with the oils, salts, and water on your skin allowed electricity to flow through your body to the other hand. By being able to flow through your body, the electrons in the circuit became free to move around the now closed circuit. This in turn allows them to flow through the lights/instruments on the exhibit, providing them power and turning them on.
Instructions: Place your hands on the metal handshaped plates and observe. Content: The human body is a conductor of electricity. When your hands touched the plate, a chemical reaction with the oils, salts, and water on your skin allowed electricity to flow through your body to the other hand. By being able to flow through your body, the electrons in the circuit became free to move around the now closed circuit. This in turn allows them to flow through the lights/instruments on the exhibit, providing them power and turning them on.
Pedal Power
Instructions: Sit on the bicycle seat and start pedaling. When ready, flip up any or all of the three switches to power either the drill or the light bulbs. Content: This exhibit is an example of a generator. Most generators are gasoline engines designed to use movement to create electricity. However, this one uses human power to create electricity. To create power, the pedals are connected to a magnet by a chain. When you pedal, it turns the magnets. What makes this exhibit work is that magnets are able to alter electric currents. By moving the magnets, a current is created. This current consequently powers the electrical equipment on display. You may notice that when you turn one of them on, it gets harder to pedal. This is because not only do the magnets affect the current, but the current affects themagnets. When the current goes through the light bulbs or the drill, it meets resistance. This slows the electrons down, causing them to slow down around the magnets as well. Because the electrons are going slower, the magnets go much slower as well, and push against the direction of your pedaling.
Instructions: Sit on the bicycle seat and start pedaling. When ready, flip up any or all of the three switches to power either the drill or the light bulbs. Content: This exhibit is an example of a generator. Most generators are gasoline engines designed to use movement to create electricity. However, this one uses human power to create electricity. To create power, the pedals are connected to a magnet by a chain. When you pedal, it turns the magnets. What makes this exhibit work is that magnets are able to alter electric currents. By moving the magnets, a current is created. This current consequently powers the electrical equipment on display. You may notice that when you turn one of them on, it gets harder to pedal. This is because not only do the magnets affect the current, but the current affects themagnets. When the current goes through the light bulbs or the drill, it meets resistance. This slows the electrons down, causing them to slow down around the magnets as well. Because the electrons are going slower, the magnets go much slower as well, and push against the direction of your pedaling.
Jacob's Ladder
Instructions: Press the Start button to send a spark up the ladder Content: The two poles contained in the exhibit become oppositely charged when the button is pushed. Because of this charge, the air between the poles is realigned to have positive particles near the negative pole, and vice versa. The result is atoms in the air end up being torn apart from the force of their electrons and protons being pulled in different directions, causing a violent reaction that we see as a spark. Due to the idea that heat rises, the spark (which is quite hot) rises up the pole until there is no force pulling the air apart (usually at the end). The instant the spark then disappears and a new one is formed near the bottom to start the process again.
Instructions: Press the Start button to send a spark up the ladder Content: The two poles contained in the exhibit become oppositely charged when the button is pushed. Because of this charge, the air between the poles is realigned to have positive particles near the negative pole, and vice versa. The result is atoms in the air end up being torn apart from the force of their electrons and protons being pulled in different directions, causing a violent reaction that we see as a spark. Due to the idea that heat rises, the spark (which is quite hot) rises up the pole until there is no force pulling the air apart (usually at the end). The instant the spark then disappears and a new one is formed near the bottom to start the process again.
Curiosity Corner
Promoting playful learning, the Curiosity Corner is an area for parents and children ages 5 and under to investigate and explore the world around them. Soar into space, climb a tree, and make music! Puzzles, books, and games designed specifically with preschool science content are sectioned off in their own area designed just for young ones.
Promoting playful learning, the Curiosity Corner is an area for parents and children ages 5 and under to investigate and explore the world around them. Soar into space, climb a tree, and make music! Puzzles, books, and games designed specifically with preschool science content are sectioned off in their own area designed just for young ones.
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