About the Exhibition
A tablespoon, a lever and a crane – despite the differences in shape and size between them, all three objects have one thing in common: they are levers that operate according to the principle of mechanical advantage. Mechanical advantage is the ratio of load to effort.
According to this principle, one can gain distance at the expense of force or force at the expense of distance. Everyday familiar objects, like the screw or the pulley, make revolutionary use of increasing the distance so that we can produce more work with less effort.
“Levers of Discovery” is a joyful journey through humankind’s ingenuity to build machines and tools whose sole purpose is to help us accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.
"Pulley elevator,” “Archimedes Screw” and most prominently our "Balls and Forces" exhibit enable our younger visitors to experiment with the principle of mechanical advantage.
Outside in the yard, the experiential “Building in the Sand” exhibit will turn every child into a young engineer. There, children can make sand blocks for construction and use planning and construction tools such as a plumb bob, a spirit level and a try square to complete tasks that spark the imagination and drive creativity and teamwork.
Not to worry: a nearby vacuum and cleaning station will ensure that your visit proceeds smoothly and happily.
