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Playing around with something like this has actually been on my
long-term to-do list. The twist I was interested in would be to try to
show a gravitational slingshot, but the approach might be useful for
other scenarios. 

Instead of just using weights to deform a rubber sheet, have a moveable
post on the underside with a magnet. Steel balls get pulled down towards
the magnet; and you're not just relying on mass for the deformation.
Have a big magnet (or permanent attachment point) for the Sun, and a
couple of smaller ones for other planets.

The fun thing I'd really like to see is if you placed a simple orrery*
under the sheet with magnets on the arms. The magnetic orrery arms could
move the steel balls on the top of the sheet (the magnet causing the
ball to roll around, and not requiring a break in the sheet). Small
wooden balls could be rolled in (as comets, satellites, etc.), and if
you timed the wooden balls path correctly you could get a "gravitational
boost" from the relaxing rubber sheet. The magnetic orrery lets you
create functionally more massive objects, as well as giving a chance to
compare historic and modern understanding of gravitation.

*Orrery: an apparatus for representing the positions, motions, and
phases of the planets, satellites, etc., in the solar system. I knew the
word existed, but had to back look it up, so I won't assume others know
it. 

Does anyone know of something akin to this being implemented? 

 --
Luke 'Doc' Donev, Ph.D.
Educator - Applied Sciences
Museum of Nature and Science
1813 S. 2nd Ave.
Dallas, TX 75210
214-428-5555 x1434



-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of William Katzman
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Warping Space Exhibit Safety

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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*****

Wow, that does seem heavy.  Even without abuse, if one of those spheres
is dropped then you are talking crushed toes (unless they are incredibly
well padded).
There is a small version of this exact exhibit in LIGO's traveling
exhibit http://ligo.phy.olemiss.edu/LIGOexhibit/ , but it uses small
masses.
As a programmatic activity we do a larger version of that using 5 lb
balls, but I can't see leaving that open to the public.

-William
William Katzman	 						Program
Leader
[log in to unmask]				LIGO Science
Education Center
225-686-3134
"Inspiring Science"

On Aug 12, 2010, at 1:49 PM, Doug Johnson wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
related institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
> 
> Greetings,
> We are currently working on a exhibit that illustrates space in 3-D. 
> The concept is borrowed from the Einstein exhibit "Space-Time Table".
Its essentially a rubber sheet showing the "X" and "Y" axis. Guests
place spheres of different size and density on the grid to form a "Z"
axis. My question is one of safety. Often times when an exhibit is being
developed we have to ask ourselves "How will the 1% of guests use or
abuse the exhibit in a way that is harmful to themselves, other guests
or the facility." With that being said, has anyone had experience with a
exhibit that used loose spheres weighing up to 5-7 pounds? If so, what
was used to promote proper usage of the exhibit? We really do not want
to tether the spheres due to tangling issues and lack of freedom to
explore the different properties of "curved or bent" space. Any input
would be greatly appreciated.
> Cheers,
> -Doug
> 
> Doug Johnson
> Exhibit Developer
> Orlando Science Center
> 407.514.2031
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Inspire science learning for life
> 
> 
> 
> **********************************************************************
> * For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers 
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
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