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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Can you create an opportunity to test two different brief phrases/explanations with visitors? It seems that "wheel and axle" and "pulley acting as a wheel and axle" are both correct, but offhand I would say the former, to many visitors, would look incomplete (since what they seek looks like a pulley) while the latter may be too much information and confusing in other ways.
Write a couple sample texts and try them with 4-5 visitors, and gauge reactions. You're not going for 95% confidence, just trying to inform your choice. Maybe you'll get better suggestions back from the test subjects!
Matt Morgan
General Manager of the Website
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fournier, Kathy
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 9:19 AM
To: Morgan, Matt
Subject: Re: science of ziplines
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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So would it be more correct to call it a wheel and axle or a pulley acting as a wheel an axle. It may just be semantics but I see it as a pulley and our exhibits team sees it as a wheel and axle. I feel that both are right but how to convey that on exhibit text? It has certainly brought some interesting conversations and maybe some interesting perspectives between how educators vs exhibit teams perceive concepts. This is happening in several other areas that I may share with the list as well.
Thanks for your insight!
Kathy Fournier
Associate Vice President of Education
McWane Science Center
200 19th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
205-714-8254
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Erich Rose
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 6:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: science of ziplines
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Certainly in the case of a zip-line the pulley is acting as a wheel.
Pulleys can also behave like gears multiplying or dividing the revolutions of various shafts.
I love simple machines. I was trying, the other day, to explain to someone that a screw is just an inclined plane wrapped around itself.
Erich Rose
Erich Rose Design
807 The Living End
Austin, TX 78746
512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]
On May 10, 2011, at 4:53 PM, Javier Rivera wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> Hello
> A pulley is used to change the direction of a force and under certain arrangements, distribute the tension forces caused by a weight. In the case of a zipline, the pulley is not used to change direction of forces; it is used to roll along the cable.
> The way I see it, the pulley could be replaced by a rolling ball along the cable (for purely diagrammatic purposes).
>
> Javier Rivera
> Astronomy Programs Manager
> Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
> 2559 Puesta Del Sol
> Santa Barbara, CA 93105
> (805) 682-4711 ext. 173; [log in to unmask]
> http://sbnature.org/gladwin/3.html
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fournier, Kathy
> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 2:43 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: science of ziplines
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> Hey all:
>
> I need some help in settling a difference of opinion among my staff.
> We are writing up the science of a zipline for a new exhibit and there
> is some disagreement on whether or not the 2 simple machines involved
> are an inclined plane (they slope of the wire) and a pulley OR an
> inclined plane and a wheel and axle.
>
>
>
> I know this group will have plenty of insight so bring it on!
>
>
>
> Kathy Fournier
>
> Associate Vice President of Education
>
> McWane Science Center
>
> 200 19th Street North
>
> Birmingham, AL 35203
>
> 205-714-8254
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> * For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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