What's the angular velocity of the Blender Ride as it spins about the center post? This is just one of many questions that Harsco Science Center will answer in K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides, a special exhibit that will captivate young visitors and provide them the opportunity to explore the science, math and technology behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides.
Joining forces with Whitaker Center, K'NEX Industries, one of the world's leading integrated construction toy companies, will have on display nine models made solely from K'NEX rods and connectors. The models will range from a roller coaster measuring over 10 feet tall, a 6-foot Ferris wheel, a variety of swing rides from 3 to 10 feet, and include the new Vertical Vengeance, a roller coaster made from new K'NEX micro parts, that stands over 5 feet in height.
The realistic actions of the models will bring scientific and engineering concepts to life for students who will be able to conduct simple experiments to explore physical forces such as potential and kinetic energy, and linear and rotational motion.
"We are delighted to form this wonderful and educational partnership with K'NEX," said Kris Olewine Milke, Whitaker Center interim president and CEO. "What better way to engage kids to learn about math and science than through creative and innovative play."
The Center will provide hands-on activities and K'NEX building areas for children ages 6 and up and KID K'NEX for youngsters ages 3-5. In addition, schoolteachers will have access to pre- and post-visit classroom activities designed to enhance and supplement existing science, math and technology curricula; these activities are aligned with national and state standards for these subjects.
The relationship with Whitaker Center evolved from K'NEX's past and successful traveling exhibit program that offered a fun, interactive exhibit that created a hands-on K'NEX environment for kids and their parents.
"The feedback that we previously received from parents, the kids and the museums was tremendous," said Bob Jesberg, K'NEX Education Expert. "We wanted to develop a similar program again and when Whitaker Center approached us with the idea of amusement park rides—one of our key areas of expertise—and the science powering them, we knew we'd found an ideal education partner." K'NEX plans to make the program available to other museums in 2007.
"K'NEX provides children with a marvelous construction toy that allows them to think out of the box, use their imagination, and learn about the physical sciences while also challenging them to go beyond the basics to more advanced learning," said Steve Bishop, vice president of Harsco Science Center.
Happily, children won't have to leave their on-site creations behind - instead, they can purchase their designs, with pricing based on a Weigh & Pay model (weight of total parts used at a predetermined price). Wonders Store will also have K'NEX sets on sale for aspiring young engineers and architects.
Big Science Theatre is getting in on the act with Equal but Opposite a lighthearted look at Newton's Third Law of Motion that is sure to get you moving, and Lever Alone a highly interactive and participatory performance exploring simple tools and the physics that make them work. STARS youth volunteers will present related Science a la Carte and Pocket Science.
Complementing the exhibit is Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun, a white-knuckle adventure that takes full advantage of the power of IMAX films. Explore the science and psychology of fun and people's need for thrill seeking by tracing the history of thrill rides, beginning with early roller coasters. The film also takes viewers behind the scenes of high-tech motion simulators, showing how technology originally developed by the military and NASA as a flight training device, evolved into the ride simulators of today.
Projected on a screen six stories tall, Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun puts every member of the audience in the front seat of some of the wildest rides ever created.
K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides in Gloria M. Olewine Gallery at Harsco Science Center and Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun in Select Medical IMAX Theater will open to the public on Saturday, September 30. Educators can call 717-214-4644 for details about a special preview in September.
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What's the angular velocity of the Blender Ride as it spins about the center post? This is just one of many questions that Harsco Science Center will answer in K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides, a special exhibit that will captivate young visitors and provide them the opportunity to explore the science, math and technology behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides.
