Optics

Physics

Reflection

"Delta Phi"

by Joachim Sauter The chrome-plated surface of the exhibit resembles a strongly moving water surface. Illuminated from above with a torch, the incoming light…

2x2 Puzzle

Four cubes fit together in the box. Each cube has 4 quarter-pictures, one on each of 4 faces. The other two faces are transparent, BUT they look onto the…

3D-Shadows

Shadows gain depth. Illuminated with red and green light, a tetrahedron casts a red and a green shadow on the screen. Viewed through glasses with red and…

847 Compass needles

There are 847 compass needles attached to a disc. Because they are so close together, they influence each other. With a magnet, the compass needles can be made…

A Slice of Turbulence

by Ned Kahn If the crest of the wave collapsed over the surfer off Hawaii and he could bring home a slice of salami from it, he would have the original to the…

Additive Color Mixing

Mixing light colors. Play with red, green, and blue light, and with their brightness. When overlapped and adjusted optimally, red, green, and blue produce…

Adhesive Air

Coandă Effect: How shape, position, and surface influence airflow. The Coandă effect occurs when fluid or gas jets deviate from their original flow direction…

Aeolian Landscape

by Ned Kahn Alongside water and ice, wind is the shaping element of the natural landscape. This exhibit allows for the pleasurable "terraforming" of gently…

Air Bubbles

A pump can be used to force air into a water-filled glass tube. However, not all air bubbles rise vertically. Some do, others choose more of a zigzag or spiral…

Air cushion

Inventive talent is called for here! Use scissors and tape to build objects out of paper that float on the wide air cushion. While testing and optimising, you…

Air Fountain

Dance with scarves. They rise and fall. Colorful scarves, moved by the airflow as if by an invisible hand. Choreography: visitors on the platform. by Daniel…

Air lift

The vacuum makes the difference. When the ball moves up the tube, the airflow is directed in such a way that a vacuum is created. How must it be directed for…

Air Mirror

Sit comfortably and check the stripy view at the end of the road. Now heat up the road. (A solid steel plate rapidly heats to 100°, warming the dark sand of…

All Triangels are the same

Using different triangular shapes, congruent shadows are to be cast on a pattern wall with equilateral triangles.

Anamorphic Images: Cone

On a flat surface the images are distorted beyond recognition – a peculiar visual code requiring a special key. Slip the square sheets over the reflective…

Anamorphic Images: Cylinder

On a flat surface, the images are distorted beyond recognition - a special visual code needs a special key. Put the square panels over the reflective cylinder:…

Angled Mirrors

With two mirrors that can be brought to different angles to each other around an axis, polygons (so-called polygons) can be made in a simple way. At very…

Anti Gravity Mirror

Half a person becomes whole. Reflect the right half of the body, and there you have it: a complete person. It’s fascinating to watch them move. Can you manage…

Ascending magma

by Ned Kahn No, it is not real magma, but this model magma nevertheless makes it clear to us what processes are going on deep under a volcanic vent. Air is…

Aurora

A different kind of reflection. Colored filters in a mirror: why don’t we simply see their exact image? The surface of the mirror is rough. Restless,…

Back View

Step forward to check how neat (or not….) your bum really looks in those cool new jeans: every clothes’ store should have this back-view booth!

Ball in a Bowl

Which of the two balls reaches its destination faster? Of course, the one that runs the shortest distance between the start and the finish - or so you…

Ball in a Bowl

Anyone who has ever swung a hula hoop around their waist or a daler in a bowl knows what this is all about. Inside a large Plexiglas ball, two balls can be…

Ball on water-beam

What makes table tennis balls stick to the water fountain? Obviously, the ball does not ride in the middle of the jet and rotates so that it comes towards the…