Reuben H. Fleet:: Motion Mania: Move Your Mind!

What’s so important about motion? Motion pervades nature. Everything on the earth experiences motion, from people and plants to spinning tops and moving pictures. Motion leads to change and change holds our attention. The birth of science was rooted in the study of motion. Galileo studied patterns in the ways things fall; Kepler studied the motion of planets; Newton noticed that the apple falling from the tree and the moon in its orbit around earth were linked by a grand pattern of motion – gravity. The perception of motion is key to human survival, so much so, that sometimes we even see motions that aren’t there – and alternatively, fail to see motions that are, as “Motion Mania” reveals.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit the Fleet’s newest in-house exhibition, an interactive kinetic sculpture called the “Kugelbahn.” The “Kugelbahn” highlights many different forms of energy, including potential (stored energy), kinetic (energy of motion), sound, and electromagnetic energy. Using everyday items ranging from a wok and a lacrosse stick to billiard balls and a bike wheel, the “Kugelbahn” requires no electricity. Visitors provide the needed energy by turning its handle, setting in motion a series of energy transformations that are fascinating to behold. The custom-built “Kugelbahn” exhibit is made possible locally in part by a generous gift from SDG&E.

Among the exhibits on view during “Motion Mania” are:

At Falling Magnets, spin the disk and magnets move in a circular dance. Depending on how fast or slow you spin the disk, the dance changes. Why? Currents drive the magnets upwards, but gravity pulls them down – leaving them in a kind of floating orbit.

At Pendulum Snake, ten pendulums of different lengths start swinging together, then become complex and out of phase, swinging seemingly at random. But, lo and behold, they come back together, swinging in unison, because of the carefully calibrated length of their strings.

At Coupled Pendulum, watch the energy of one pendulum move gradually to the other and back again in an awe-inspiring display of resonant frequency.

At Rope Squirter, see a dancing rope activated by a pulley that is attached to a spinning motor. What’s important is the string, which becomes a wild dancing loop, twisting itself and surprising visitors as they try to capture it in funnels, blocks, arms, and hands, as it takes its many unpredictable forms.

At Cloud Rings, a mist generator and a large rubber membrane with a hole in the middle launch a ring of vapor up to the ceiling. The ring is generated by the frictions between the hole’s edge and the vapor flowing through the hole, which forms a swirling pattern known as a vortex.

At Talking in Circles, visitors spin a large goblet and suddenly two people appear and seem to be talking. Stop it and there’s nothing there. How is it that you’ll perceive a motion that isn’t there? Find out in Talking Circles!