Energy Explorers: A New Interactive Exhibit Opens
at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
ASHLAND, NE – (December 28, 2017) The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum opens a new interactive exhibit, which focuses on the exploration of energy. The exhibit includes the discovery of primary energy sources, investigates and compares potential and kinetic energy, and interacts with circuitry using hands-on electrical components.
The Museum strives to hold two interactive exhibits annually that focus on topics in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). The Museum’s education staff searched for a STEM exhibit that would align with the 2018 winter school year curriculum but did not find a suitable option. With the support of several donors, the museum was able to commission a master fabricator to build several interactive displays that are part of the Museum’s vision.
“This is a new exhibit specifically designed to reinforce scientific principles related to energy and the exhibit is developed in an interactive way so that learning principles are reinforced,” said the Museum’s director of finance and guest programs, Elaine Leibert. “The new exhibit can be part of any school field trip experience but it is also open to the public as part of general admission.”
The 2,500 square-foot exhibition consists of interactive components that captivate audiences and increase their understanding about the driving force for the universe – energy. The exhibit explores all things energy, including energy sources, how energy is transferred to another form, and the relationships of electrical or magnetic interactions.
Visitors will become a true explorer of all things energy by:
- Learning and exploring primary sources of energy – nuclear, fossil, solar, geothermal, hydro, wind
- Performing hands-on experiments that test energy in motion
- Testing the power of wind energy with an air vortex cannon
- Discovering where energy comes from through interactive learning on a kiosk
- Testing the transfer of energy using an electric circuits board or hand crank bulbs
- Experiencing conservation of energy through a newton’s cradle
- Learning about magnetic and electrical fields using magnets, snap circuitry, or sound tubes
The exhibit opens Saturday, January 13, 2018 and will remain open until April 23, 2018. The exhibit gallery is available to the public as part of general admission.