All program times are subject to change without notice.
Exhibit Hall
Now Open on Level 2
A visitor favorite, Science Park’s eclectic array of interactive exhibits lets you explore such concepts as lights & lasers, sound & waves, electricity & magnetism, fundamental forces, and simulation. Make "waves" at the giant 56 foot echo tube or tap out a tune on pipes of pan.
Race your friends on the 70ft pinewood derby track or take to the air on our flight simulator. Discover the power of light, and make your own mini-laser show. There are also new open-ended exhibits that invite visitors to imagine, create, and construct various inventions from paper flying machines to structures from PVC pipe.
Science Park also features a variety of live shows and demonstrations that complement and enhance the topics in the exhibit. We’re always creating new exhibits for Science Park, so check our website articles for news.
If you thought invisible cloaks were just used by Harry Potter, think again. Two independent research teams have created carpet cloaks that allow you to experience an object vanishing. The researchers discovered this with the use of crystals, called a calcite prism. The crystals are placed in a precise location so that when the correct light hits the cloak and the crystals' “optical properties” kick in, the object you are viewing disappears before your eyes.
They are currently only able to make smaller objects disappear, such as an ant or piece rice. Scientist still have a lot of work ahead of them in advancing the invisible cloak, making it 3-D and making larger objects disappear, but they are on the right track. Where does the future lead? Instead of hiding objects, scientist would love to reveal them, a new kind of ABRACADABRA!
This past year over 300 High School teams competed in a competition involving obstacles, not by the use of physical actions, but by the use of robots. How would you like to be involved in a revolutionary science competition? The FIRST Robotics Championship takes a year of preparation concluding with a 3-day competition event. At the beginning of the year, each team receives all the necessary tools including strings, wires, gears and metal pieces to begin the production of their own robots. They then compete in a regional competition in anticipation to make it to the finals. During the finals, the teams break into groups where they vigorously compete in a game called “breakaway” which is similar to soccer with added obstacles, until one team is crowned the champion.
This mission of the FIRST Robotics competition is getting students involved in science and technology. The highest honor is the Chairman’s Award, and the team named Miss Daisy, from Wissahickon won this past year. Although they were not in the final round, they have been competing for the past 11 years and always engage their entire community in the process.
The FIRST Robotics competition is a great way for students to excel in science using a hands-on approach. Using only the materials received in a box, these students can create functional robots, something they can be very proud of. If you would like a chance to become a science inventor, this website provides all the information necessary to start your own team!
Florida is on track to open America’s first High Speed Rail service in 2015. The trains first route will connect the Orlando International Airport to Downtown Tampa. “Trains are projected to reach speeds of at least 168 mph.”
The rail lines are planned to run along I-4, between the east and west bound traffic. Future lines to Miami include one to run along Florida’s Turnpike, and the other to connect Brevard Counties Shores.
Along with the Orlando Sunrail, expected to open in 2013, this will change the way Central Floridians get around. As Mayor Buddy Dyer put it, “No where in America has any area gone from basically no rail, to such a great system.”
For More information on Florida High Speed Rail, or the Orlando Sun Rail visit there websites listed below. Also visit the My Fox Orlando site for a video.
Yves Rossy, Swiss Pilot and Inventor, successfully tested and flew a new version of his personal Jetpack on November 5, 2010, and successfully completed two full loops. Many may think this inventor is just another extreme sports nut or perhaps a Boba Fett wanna be, but his invention has made the dream of personal aircraft transportation one step closer to reality. He uses a Hot Air Balloon to launch and a Parachute to land, but in between is all personal flight, controlled by Yves himself.
Visit the Jetman’s Website at www.jet-man.com or watch his flight video below. Very Cool!
Needless to say, there's been a lot of news coverage regarding the earthquake in Haiti and your kids might be wondering what happened. We found this description on a web site called weatherwizkids.com. It's run by a meterologist at an Indianapolis TV station, Crystal Wicker. It's designed for kids and is a great way to explain earthquakes to your little ones.
"There are about 20 plates along the surface of the earth that move continuously and slowly past each other. When the plates squeeze or stretch, huge rocks form at their edges and the rocks shift with great force, causing an earthquake. Think of it this way: Imagine holding a pencil horizontally. If you were to apply a force to both ends of the pencil by pushing down on them, you would see the pencil bend. After enough force was applied, the pencil would break in the middle, releasing the stress you have put on it. The Earth's crust acts in the same way. As the plates move they put forces on themselves and each other. When the force is large enough, the crust is forced to break. When the break occurs, the stress is released as energy which moves through the Earth in the form of waves, which we feel and call an earthquake."
Orlando Science Center • 777 E. Princeton Street • Orlando, Florida 32803 • Phone: 407.514.2000 • Toll Free: 888.OSC.4FUN • Email: gservices@osc.org Supported by the City of Orlando, Orange County, and United Arts of Central Florida with funds from the United Arts campaign and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Privacy Policy
