Hands-on Science Unplugged opens Saturday - Entertainment

Hands-on Science Unplugged opens Saturday

Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 12:08 AM

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The Science Museum of Virginia is getting back to basics with a new exhibit, Science Unplugged, which opens Saturday.

Science Unplugged focuses on the basic principles of engineering and physics through experiments such as constructing hurricane-proof buildings with foam blocks and designing the most aerodynamic paper plane.

The exhibit encourages visitors to experience "hands-on science in the pure sense," said Eugene Maurakis, the Science Museum's education director.

Other hands-on demonstrations will include:

Building an arch bridge and testing its strength by walking across it.

Twirling a large wooden beam without touching it.

Making a giant square bubble.

Sitting on a suspended bench and lifting your own weight.

Determining the easiest way to lift a 100-pound anvil.

Knocking down oversize dominos with an air cannon.

Spinning tops and balls inside a bowl to see how they react to a curved surface.

The new exhibition isn't about state-of-the-art technology, said David Hagan, a museum scientist, who instead described it as "a journey of learning by making, doing and testing." -- Bill Lohmann -RD>